In this episode The Athletic’s Adam Crafton goes into the boardroom at Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk to meet those facing unprecedented challenges to compete in the Champions League whilst war rages in Ukraine. Shakhtar’s CEO Sergei Palkin reveals why his club are suing football’s world governing body FIFA for €50m. 

The grim realities of war are never too far away, as Adam speaks to one Ukrainian mother, who shares the tragic story of her son, a soldier and promising young footballer, who once tried out with Shakhtar.

Despite it all, we join Shakhtar as they take to the field against the world’s richest, most successful club Real Madrid. 

Credits:

Presenter: Adam Crafton

Producers: Adam Crafton, Jesse Howard, and Mike Stavrou

Featuring footage from Al Jazeera, AP, ESPN, BBC News and BT Sport