The International Union of International Soccer Players (Fifpro) lamented yesterday the death of the first two Ukrainian players, Vitalii Sapylo (21 years old) and Dmytro Martynenko, (25), due to the war between Russia and Ukraine that led to the Soviets being part of of a “sports fence” in the world.
According to international media, Sapylo died in Kiev when facing the entry of Russian troops into the Ukrainian capital while Dmytro Martynenko died with his mother after a bomb hit his home, reported the EFE agency.
This harsh reality that these two nations are experiencing caused eleven international federations to limit the participation of Soviet athletes in the different competitions scheduled for this season. Now the Russian and Belarusian athletes “take the bill” of the war that their country has against Ukraine and leaves harsh consequences for the athletes who, for the moment, are left out of any competitive activity on the globe.
The international entities that put a fence around Russia and Belarus are the International Federation of Associated Football (FIFA), the Union of European Football Federations (UEFA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in addition to the international Athletics, Tennis, Rugby, Cycling, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Badminton and Volleyball. It has the tendency to continue growing in the next few hours.
WITHOUT FLAG The Automobile and Swimming federations decided that Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete, but as neutrals, without symbols, flag or anthems. These entities were “softer” in their determinations and open the door to athletes, but they will reach the competition in the midst of restrictions.
