According to the generally accepted opinion, sport should be out of politics, but in reality it is not always feasible. International sports federations try in every possible way to protect their competitions from conflicts on the basis of relations between countries, therefore they go on various tricks.
It is for this reason that the national teams of Armenia and Azerbaijan rarely meet each other at competitions. Tournament organizers intentionally bred them at the draw, practically excluding the possible intersection in the course of the championship.
The same thing has happened since 2014 with Russia and Ukraine. When relations between states began to heat up, the federations decided to minimize the political overtones during the sporting events. For safety reasons, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) began to breed teams from two countries in the draw for tournaments both among clubs and among teams. And since then they have never met in the international arena.
However, in the organization Sport for All, one of the main tasks of which is the fight against racism and xenophobia in football, they believe that such measures only harm relations between the two countries. As a result, she appealed to UEFA to stop this practice.
"We prepared an appeal to UEFA, in which we call for permission to hold matches between Russian and Ukrainian clubs. We also advocate that the national teams of Russia and Ukraine are not divorced in different groups at the upcoming European football championship. The recent duel between Russian and Ukrainian boxers Murat Gassiev and Alexander Usik in Moscow showed that sports events involving athletes from both countries can take place in a friendly atmosphere. Targeted breeding of Russia and Ukraine partly deprives the tournaments of the sports principle, "Izvestia quotes the head of Sport for All Janis Cousins.
At the same time the functionary noted that rivalry in the sport can contribute to the improvement of relations between the two states.
"Sport does not need to be confused with politics. We are sure that all issues related to security can be solved. Actually, several thousand Ukrainian fans came to the World Cup, and everything went smoothly without any incidents. In addition, without the joint games of the two countries, the UEFA rating table is biased, "added Cousins.
He also expressed the opinion that at the first stage fights between teams from Russia and Ukraine can be held without spectators or in neutral territory. Thus, this will avoid possible provocations.
Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee for International Affairs Alexei Chepa positively assessed the proposal of the organization. He agrees that holding matches can help normalize relations between countries.
"Russians and Ukrainians are fraternal peoples. At the opening of the mundialya next to me were Ukrainian fans who waved their flags, as well as Russian, who supported our team. At the same time, there were no problems, everything was friendly and beautiful. Sport is a unifying factor, and one should not be afraid to arrange joint matches between Russia and Ukraine. Fans will be able to see a respectful relationship between the players, which will also improve the connections between the fans, "Chepa said.
- Footballers Roman Shishkin and Artem Milevsky during the qualification match of the Champions League "Spartak" - "Dynamo" (Kiev)
- globallookpress.com
Member of the Ethics Committee of the Russian Football Union (RFU) Andrei Sozin also positively assessed the initiative of Sport for All. However, he believes that it is too early to talk about this.
"I would really like it to help. A thin world is better than a good war. Some moves need to be taken. It would be great if football began to bring our countries closer. But, judging by how recently athletes from Ukraine are behaving, I believe that it is premature. Suffice it to recall the incidents with Khacharidi and Fedoriv, "Sozin said in an interview with RT.
After the return match with Spartak in the third qualifying round of the Champions League defender of the Greek PAOK Evgeni Khacheridi demonstratively showed Russian fans a shield with a flag of Ukraine. Fedoriv did not turn to the flag during the performance of the Russian anthem before the match of the Football National League (FNL).
Sozin also noted that while such an initiative can lead to the emergence of "bad situations". In his opinion, fans from Russia and Ukraine will be afraid to attend guest meetings.
At the same time, he criticized the proposal to hold fights between teams in a neutral territory or with empty stands.
"But with this I can not agree. Football - a game for the audience, to conduct it without fans - a crime. Such measures will not save, it will not be a way out. If there are any moves at the level of heads of state or foreign ministries - meetings, negotiations - then it is possible to connect the sport. Football can not replace politics, "Sozin added.
- Match of the legends of the national teams of Russia and Ukraine in 2013
- globallookpress.com
Such an initiative was not supported by the honorable president of the RFU, Vyacheslav Koloskov. According to him, UEFA has serious reasons for hindering meetings between Russian and Ukrainian teams.
"Solutions for the cultivation of teams and teams from Russia and Ukraine are received by professionals who not only study the topic on a daily basis, but also are responsible for the consequences. It was made quite justifiably, because it is very easy to create problems on an equal place. Of course, we maintain diplomatic relations, but the situation is far from ideal. In many respects it concerns the Ukrainian side, all sorts of fears are poured into Russia, "Koloskov said.
In his opinion, in the near future the initiative of Sport for All will not be realized.
"I think that the decision to hold matches between teams from Russia and from Ukraine will not be accepted. But if UEFA still decides on this, it will be very reckless. I am absolutely against the fact that now the teams from these countries have played with each other, "Koloskov stressed.
He also criticized the possible holding of matches between teams from Russia and from Ukraine in the absence of fans.
"It's just bullshit. Why do we need football if we hold meetings without spectators or in neutral stadiums? So you can agree to anything. In this case, the goal does not justify the means, "Koloskov added.
UEFA also hastened to comment on the initiative of the international organization. As reported by "Izvestia", the union said that on the eve of the draw of the European Championships in 2020, there is no need to wait for changes.
"Clubs from Azerbaijan and Armenia, from Russia and Ukraine, from Serbia and Kosovo, from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, as well as from Spain and Gibraltar, should not be in the same group. The procedure for drawing qualification for Euro 2020 will be announced at a later stage, "the press service of the organization explained.