Andriy Shevchenko did not hide his tears. “Open your hearts to the people and to my people, to the children and the elderly who need your help so badly,” said the 45-year-old on the Italian RAI talk show “Che tempo che fa”. The football idol fears for his relatives and friends. “I’m very concerned about their decision to stay there. They tell me what’s happening, how cities are being bombed.” The 111-time international called for a ceasefire to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. “Sport has enormous power and can send a message of peace to many countries. Ukraine wants to be part of Europe, that was our decision as a people,” said Shevchenko, who was last coach at FC Genoa.
FIFA creates exception
The world governing body FIFA has opened a transfer window for the foreign football professionals currently working in Russia and Ukraine so that they can temporarily leave the war-torn countries. Players and coaches can suspend their contracts in the war countries until the end of the season. They are considered without a contract until June 30 and can “sign a contract with another club without any consequences,” FIFA said. This transfer deadline only applies until April 7 and a club can only sign up to two players who fall under the exemption.
FIFA reiterated its condemnation of “Russia’s continued use of force in Ukraine,” it said. FIFA and the European Football Union (UEFA) had previously banned all Russian teams from international competitions. In a large number of sports, Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams are no longer allowed to take part in competitions. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has been quite flexible in terms of sports policy in the past, also called for athletes from these countries to be suspended.
A remarkable step, which, after initial irritation, was followed by the Paralympics that were just being held in Beijing. In their own house, however, the Olympians took a different view: the exclusion of the Russian IOC members Yelena Isinbayeva and Shamil Tarpishchev is not possible under the rules of the Olympic umbrella organization, the IOC said.
“Tools of Dictators”
Russia’s rigorous approach to critics in its own ranks – mass arrests have taken place during anti-war demonstrations in several Russian cities – has meant that Russian athletes have so far hardly raised their voices publicly against Vladimir Putin. Those who do often live outside of Russia, such as Garry Kasparov. The once best chess player in the world makes no secret of his dislike for Putin and leading sports officials. “I’m not a fan of Mr. Bach or any other official, be it from the IOC or FIFA, because they all have direct or indirect connections with the Putins of this world,” said the 58-year-old, who emigrated to Croatia, to ARD. In view of the Russian attack on Ukraine, one must now ask oneself how to deal with associations that have intentionally or unintentionally “become tools of dictators”.
Source: Nachrichten
