Liverpool’s Milos Kerkez has found himself in political hot water after a scuffle during Hungary’s recent clash with Ukraine.
And now Hungary’s Foreign Minister has got involved to try and ensure that the international break drama does not develop further.
Minister Anita Orbán has been forced to step in after Kerkez was named on a list of “enemies of Ukraine”.
She condemned the ‘stigmatization, listing and threatening’ of the Liverpool defender, who finds himself on the list alongside Balázs Hidvéghi, a Fidesz Member of Parliament.
Enemies of Ukraine
The Russian news agency TASS reported on Friday that Kerkez had been added to the list on Mirotvorec (Peacemaker). That website, established following the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War, hosts a list of ‘Enemies of Ukraine” or Pro-Russian individuals. It also publishes the details of these individuals.
The Liverpool defender was added to the list after the recent clash between Hungary and Ukraine in the Nations League. He was involved in a scuffle at the end of that game.
His father was added to the list after he shared a video of the incident on his Instagram page, accompanied by the song “Russian Paradise” by the Russian rap group AK-47.
They’re not the only Hungarians on the list. Member of Parliament Balázs Hidvéghi was included on the list because he had participated in “humanitarian aggression against Ukraine” and disseminated the Kremlin’s “propaganda narrative.”
Now Orbán has stepped in. She explained on a Facebook post that she is in constant consultation with the Ukrainian government over the matter. She was even speaking to them during a cabinet meeting over the weekend.
The Hungarian Football Federation, the embassy and colleagues are seeking to ensure that “all parties involved took action within their respective spheres to resolve the situation.”
| Milos Kerkez — career statistics | Club | Appearances | Starts | Minutes played | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | Győri ETO | 18 | 17 | 1,329 | 0 | — |
| 2021/22 | AZ Alkmaar | 5 | 4 | 346 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022/23 | AZ Alkmaar | 52 | 51 | 4,198 | 5 | 4 |
| 2023/24 | Bournemouth | 33 | 25 | 2,347 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024/25 | Bournemouth | 41 | 40 | 3,564 | 2 | 5 |
| 2025/26 | Liverpool | 48 | 38 | 3,219 | 2 | 2 |
| 2026/27 so far | Liverpool | 7 | 6 | 563 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | All clubs | 204 | 181 | 15,566 | 9 | 13+ |
Liverpool defender’s response
Kerkez, for his part, has openly insisted that any allegations against him are wrong.
Speaking on Friday evening, the Liverpool man insisted that he has never supported any form of aggression, nor can he be held responsible for his father.
“I have never supported—and do not support—any form of aggression in my life! I am not the kind of person who finds anything that harms others acceptable!”Blikk quote him as saying.
“There is always tension at a football match, and during the game against Ukraine, I simply defended our captain, my friend, and I would have done the same regardless of which country we were playing against.
“It is important to note that my father is not me! I cannot be held responsible for his actions, whatever they may be!”
