Sport confronted with war

Virginie Phulpin 07:28, February 25, 2022

This is Virginie Phulpin's sports editorial.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has repercussions everywhere, including in sport.

And we have seen since yesterday the actors of sport reacting, everywhere.

There is a real change, the players in sport are no longer content with facade condemnations, they are finally using their influence on a large scale.

We are witnessing a real change in the discourse and actions of sports actors.

Faced with the unthinkable, we are no longer just cute messages from athletes on social networks to say that war is bad.

It goes far beyond that, and it's new.

We had an illustration of this already when the WTA suspended all its tennis tournaments in China to protest against the fate reserved for Peng Shuai.

Since yesterday, we have proof that it was not an isolated gesture.

The players in sport are committed, at their level of course, to opposing the war launched by Russia in Ukraine.

Yesterday evening Tony Parker said clearly that his basketball club ASVEL would not play in Russia next week, it would be to deny its values.

Yet the Euroleague is important for Villeurbanne.

Sebastian Vettel will refuse to take the wheel in Sochi if the Formula 1 Grand Prix is ​​maintained in Russia.

World champion Max Verstappen is on the same line.

F1 drivers are not, however, known to be the most revolutionary in the world.

The German football club Schalke 04 scratches its Russian sponsor Gazprom from its jersey.

That is to say that we act even when it affects the wallet.

It's new.

And then there is something new.

The Polish, Czech and Swedish football federations have issued a joint press release.

They can find themselves facing Russia in the World Cup play-offs.

It's no, they will refuse to face it.

While there is a World Cup in play. It means that sports players no longer seek to know what the consequences may be for themselves and their little pre-square.

They get up right away to say no.

You have to realize that we have changed the paradigm here.

Will the international sports authorities follow this movement?

UEFA is holding an emergency meeting this morning.

It is acquired, it will relocate the final of the Champions League, which was planned in St Petersburg.

It cannot organize this final in Russia.

It is morally unacceptable.

After that there are still questions.

Gazprom is the sponsor of the Champions League and brings in several tens of millions of euros per year.

What do we do ?

Today we can seriously consider that UEFA tears up this contract, in particular because clubs are setting an example.

UEFA reacts faster than FIFA, which is not a big surprise.

Will FIFA let Russia compete in the World Cup play-offs?

It seems to me to be a more urgent question than the possibility of a World Cup every two years.

And the positions of the Polish teams,

Czech and Swedish will push FIFA to decide, even under duress and forced.

And then the IOC went there with its little press release on Russia's violation of the Olympic truce.

It's not going to be enough either.

The Paralympic Games start in 10 days.

The Paralympic Committee, not the IOC, manages these games.

Russia is already banned for state doping.

But it is a facade suspension, since Russian athletes can still participate under the colors of the Russian Olympic Committee.

We will have to decide.

Given the frank and firm reactions of so many players in sport, the authorities will have no other choice than to enter the dance, unless they are marginalized.

They will finally have to use their influence on a large scale.

And then the IOC went there with its little press release on Russia's violation of the Olympic truce.

It's not going to be enough either.

The Paralympic Games start in 10 days.

The Paralympic Committee, not the IOC, manages these games.

Russia is already banned for state doping.

But it is a facade suspension, since Russian athletes can still participate under the colors of the Russian Olympic Committee.

We will have to decide.

Given the frank and firm reactions of so many players in sport, the authorities will have no other choice than to enter the dance, unless they are marginalized.

They will finally have to use their influence on a large scale.

And then the IOC went there with its little press release on Russia's violation of the Olympic truce.

It's not going to be enough either.

The Paralympic Games start in 10 days.

The Paralympic Committee, not the IOC, manages these games.

Russia is already banned for state doping.

But it is a facade suspension, since Russian athletes can still participate under the colors of the Russian Olympic Committee.

We will have to decide.

Given the frank and firm reactions of so many players in sport, the authorities will have no other choice than to enter the dance, unless they are marginalized.

They will finally have to use their influence on a large scale.

The Paralympic Committee, not the IOC, manages these games.

Russia is already banned for state doping.

But it is a facade suspension, since Russian athletes can still participate under the colors of the Russian Olympic Committee.

We will have to decide.

Given the frank and firm reactions of so many players in sport, the authorities will have no other choice than to enter the dance, unless they are marginalized.

They will finally have to use their influence on a large scale.

The Paralympic Committee, not the IOC, manages these games.

Russia is already banned for state doping.

But it is a facade suspension, since Russian athletes can still participate under the colors of the Russian Olympic Committee.

We will have to decide.

Given the frank and firm reactions of so many players in sport, the authorities will have no other choice than to enter the dance, unless they are marginalized.

They will finally have to use their influence on a large scale.

the authorities will have no choice but to enter the dance, unless they are marginalized.

They will finally have to use their influence on a large scale.

the authorities will have no choice but to enter the dance, unless they are marginalized.

They will finally have to use their influence on a large scale.