LONDON: Oleksandr Zinchenko was handed the captain’s armband for Manchester City’s FA victory away to Peterborough.

The Ukraine defender, playing despite fears arising from the Russian invasion of his homeland, was given the armband by Fernandinho, coincidentally a former star with Ukraine club Shakhtar Donetsk.

Both team captains unfurled a Ukraine flag before kick-off in the fifth-round tie which City won with goals from Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish.

A message on the big screen read “We Stand With Ukraine” while fans held up a banner which read ‘Zinchenko: We Stand With You’.

This was Zinchenko’s first match since the invasion. He had been an unused substitute in City’s win over Everton on Saturday.

City manager Pep Guardiola said: “Our captain decided to give the armband to him, to show how important the situation is.

“We are all at the club behind this gesture and behind my captain, who represents his country. It is not an easy period for Alex. Playing football is the best way for him.”

Zinchenko joined an anti-war vigil outside Manchester’s Central Library last week and shared a statement on Instagram calling on governing bodies to ban Russia and its athletes from international competitions.

Tottenham suffered a another setback when they lost 1-0 after extra time at Middlesbrough.

In the Premier League Leicester won 2-0 at struggling Burnley.

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