Matveï Safonov and Illia Zabarnyi avoid handshake in PSG intra-squad friendly | OneFootball

Matveï Safonov and Illia Zabarnyi did not shake hands before kick-off during an internal PSG friendly on Saturday. According to L'Équipe, the Russian goalkeeper and the Ukrainian defender were on opposing sides.

The pair avoided contact, and when they came face to face they averted their gaze.

Safonov, 27, and Zabarnyi, 23, became team-mates at PSG this season following the centre-back’s move from Bournemouth.

They have played 13 matches together in 2025-2026, one in the Champions League and 12 in Ligue 1.

Their coexistence is framed by political tension between their countries after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. After joining PSG, Zabarnyi’s stance was to keep interactions with Safonov strictly professional in training and to meet his obligations to the club, while maintaining no relations with Russians.

Source: L'Équipe