Andriy Shevchenko has been heavily criticized in Italy for kissing his Chelsea jersey after scoring his first goal for the club in Sunday’s Community Shield. However, it’s still unclear whether the former Milan striker did it or not, but the “controversy” was enough to enough to incite a phone call from Italian sports paper the Gazzetta dello Sport. The outrage came mostly from his former fans at AC Milan, who are still grieving the striker’s departure. Regardless, Shevchenko reacted strongly to the media allegations. “Really,” he said. “I am telling you the truth, that the only shirt I kiss is the one of my country. That is the one that matters for me.” Shevchenko is renowned as a fiercely proud Ukrainian, having recently led his country to the World Cup quarterfinals. The Independent recounts his experiences as a small boy growing up near the Chernobyl disaster. He says he knows many families who are still suffering from illnesses generations later, although his, thankfully, has been spared so far. He set up a charity, which is run by his sister Elena, to help families affected by the disaster.