DOSB boss Thomas Weikert has called for an uncompromising reaction from the entire sport to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Russia has blatantly broken international law. That is why sanctions are necessary in all areas of society – and sport cannot be exempt from this,” said the President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation of the sports show. Weikert reiterated a demand by the umbrella organization to suspend Russia and Belarus from international sport.
“The IOC and the rules prescribe fairness and fair play, and that’s why it’s not possible for Russia to stay at the moment,” emphasized the DOSB President. “I assume that the vast majority of all sports federations exclude Russia,” said Weikert. After the current events, sport “must question itself at the latest now how it deals with rulers of autocracies”.
Criticism of the exclusion decision by Fifa and Uefa
The Russian Football Union (RFS) has reacted with incomprehension and heavy criticism to Fifa and Uefa’s decision to suspend its teams from all competitions because of the Russian attack on Ukraine. This violates “all standards and principles of international competition” and “the ethos of sportsmanship and fair play,” according to a statement by the RFS on Monday evening. The exclusion is “expressly discriminatory” and affects “an enormous number of athletes, coaches and support staff, club and national team officials and – more importantly – millions of Russian and international fans, whose interests should certainly have priority in international sports organizations”. The RFS reserves the right to challenge Fifa and Uefa’s decision in accordance with international sports law.
Fifa and Uefa had suspended Russia from all competitions because of the attack on Ukraine. This means that Bundesliga club RB Leipzig is in the quarter-finals of the Europa League without a fight, the round of 16 games between Leipzig and Spartak Moscow scheduled for March will not take place. In addition, UEFA announced that it would end its cooperation with the Russian sponsor Gazprom with immediate effect. The decision also sealed the elimination of the Russian team in the World Cup elimination for Qatar.
Ice Hockey World Cup probably without record winner Russia – NHL also reacts
Because of the Ukraine war, the Ice Hockey World Federation (IIHF) excludes the Russian and Belarusian teams from all competitions “until further notice”. In doing so, the IIHF follows other international federations. In addition, Russia will be revoked the rights to host the 2023 World Junior Championships, the statement said on Monday. The Ice Hockey World Championships in Finland will probably take place without Russia and Belarus. At the Olympic Games in Beijing, Russia narrowly missed out on the title in the final against Finland. An Ice Hockey World Championship without Russia was previously unimaginable. The Sbornaja has won the title 27 times, making it the record winner alongside Canada.
27 times world champion – but probably not at the next tournament: Russia’s ice hockey team (left) has been banned from all competitions by the world association until further notice. In 2022 at the Olympics, Russia lost the final to Finland.
(Foto: Meng Yongmin/Xinhua/Imago)
Meanwhile, the North American professional ice hockey league NHL has stopped its business connections to Russia. “The National Hockey League condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and urges a peaceful solution as soon as possible,” the league said in a statement. Therefore, not only will relations with Russian business partners be suspended, but also their own Russian-language online presence will be paused for the time being. The option of choosing Russia as the venue for future NHL competitions is no longer an issue.
At the same time, the league pledged its support for Russian professionals who “play on behalf of their clubs and not within the framework of Russia”. These players and their families are “in an extremely difficult situation”. Earlier on Monday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes should no longer be allowed to take part in international competitions in view of the invasion of Ukraine.
European handball follows the example of other associations – Volleyball World Cup postponed
The European Handball Federation EHF has suspended Russia and Belarus. According to the decision of the EHF Executive Committee on Monday evening, neither the national teams nor clubs from the two countries are allowed to take part in European competitions. For example, Meshkow Brest from Belarus is affected in the men’s Champions League. Rostov-Don and CSKA Moscow play in the premier class for women.
According to the EHF, referees and officials from Russia and its ally Belarus will also no longer be nominated for matches until further notice. Events planned in Russia will be reassigned. “These measures had to be taken with immediate effect as the war in Ukraine continues to rage and endangers the EHF’s principles of cooperation at European level and the spirit of fairness,” it said in a statement. The EHF regrets the consequences for individuals, clubs and national teams and hopes that the return of peace will allow for new reflections.
The world volleyball association FIVB has withdrawn the men’s world championship from Russia. The tournament was originally scheduled to take place from August 26th to September 11th. As the FIVB announced on Tuesday, the Russian federation and the organizing committee had been informed. The world association will look for alternative hosts. The FIVB had “come to the conclusion that due to the war in Ukraine it would be impossible to prepare and hold the World Championships in Russia,” the FIVB said in a statement. The FIVB had previously postponed the Nations League games scheduled for Russia, and the world association also wants to look for alternatives there.
World Taekwondo Federation withdraws black belt of honor from Putin
The world association World Taekwondo has stripped Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, 69, of his honorary black belt after the attack on Ukraine. The brutal actions of the Russian government contradict the vision of sport: “Peace is more valuable than triumph.” Therefore, the Seoul-based world association decided to withdraw Putin’s black belt of honor, which was awarded in 2013. In addition, no official Taekwondo competitions will take place in Russia and Belarus, and the flags and anthems of both countries will no longer be presented on the international stage.
On Sunday, the world judo association IJF revoked Putin’s status as honorary president and ambassador. Putin has been a judo lover since childhood, actively practiced the sport himself and holds the 8th Dan. On Monday, the International Olympic Committee stripped Putin of the Olympic medal awarded to him in 2001.
