In a letter sent to UEFA, the governing body of European football, Russia on Tuesday lodged a complaint about the Ukraine National team’s kit for Euro 2020, citing the “political motives” behind featuring an outline of Moscow-annexed Crimea and popular nationalistic slogans.

Just three days before the start of the European Championship, the Russian football federation said: “We draw attention to the use of political motives on the Ukrainian national team’s jersey, which goes against the basic principles of the UEFA kit regulations.”

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Ukraine’s new kit was revealed on Sunday on the Facebook page of the head of the Football Association of Ukraine, Andrii Pavelko.

“We believe that the silhouette of Ukraine will give strength to the players, because they will fight for all Ukraine,” wrote Pavelko, according to a Guardian report. “And all Ukraine, from Sevastopol and Simferopol to Kyiv, from Donetsk and Lugansk to Uzhgorod will support them in every match.”

Following the release of the kit, Moscow was provoked by the jersey that shows the outline of Ukraine including Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

The shirts also feature the words “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!”

UEFA traditionally stresses the importance of steering clear of politics in football.

But in a statement to AFP, European football’s governing body said the Ukrainian shirt “has been approved by UEFA, in accordance with the applicable equipment regulations”.

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According to UEFA kit regulations, items must not “offend common decency or transmit political, religious or racial messages.”

Most countries do not recognise Russia’s takeover of Crimea.

Meanwhile, Pavelko said the design had been agreed with UEFA “long before” the kit’s official presentation on Sunday.

Russia are set to take on Belgium in St Petersburg on 12 June, while Ukraine play their opening Euro 2020 match against the Netherlands on 13 June in Amsterdam.