“Ukraine is not playing here.” They took off the blue-yellow flag from Czech hockey fans

Czech fans hoisted the Ukrainian flag at the World Hockey Championships in Tampere on Saturday and then they were very surprised that the organizers took it off. Finland is more aware of the Russian aggression in Ukraine than anyone else, it has applied to join NATO because of it, but the habit of breaking the Czech public space to support Ukraine does not accept all the rules of posting there.

Finland has responded to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine with requests to join NATO, as have neighboring Sweden and, like other countries, has offered assistance to Ukraine.

However, the organizers of the World Hockey Championship clearly do not share the newly discovered Czech passion for the yellow-blue Ukrainian flags.

International sports federations usually work to eliminate political involvement, which could further fuel the emotions that are already flowing in the halls and stadiums. The Balkan countries, especially Serbia, have already received a number of disciplinary penalties for these transgressions. Polish fans and some of their choreas reminiscent of history are also viewed with disgust by international football officials.

Extreme was the punishment of football coaches for the symbol of the poppy, which is traditionally celebrated in Britain Veterans Day. The symbol is a tribute to all fallen soldiers, but UEFA also found political expression in it.

A few years ago, consistent political neutrality was broken, especially in football, by collective kneeling in honor of the Black Lives Matter, but this event also provoked debate and tension, and recently reduced to teams from Britain, where the custom arrived in Europe.

But it has always been insisted that flags and banners with a political message are not welcome at sporting events.

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Go home, Ivan

A group of Czech fans prepared three flags for Saturday’s Czech-Norwegian match. The two Czech ones were “Go Home, Ivan” and the number 1968 and “Nataša is waiting for you” with the number 2022. The Ukrainian flag was placed between them.

The slogans recalled the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and a famous protest song. But the biggest problem was the blue-yellow flag of Ukraine. The organizers had the break between the first and second period taken down.

“The problem is that Ukraine is not a member of this tournament. Personally, I have nothing against her at all, on the contrary. I support her, ” told the daily Sport the organizer responsible for the sector.

The journalist told him that Ukraine was a full member of the IIHF and, unlike Russia and Belarus, punished for the February invasion, normally participated in tournaments.

However, the organizer explained that only the flags of the sixteen countries participating in the tournament are allowed in the hall.

Ukrainian flag in the stands in the match CZE – NOR.
The organizers forced her to take her down.
(I don’t know the reason, allegedly because only the flags of the participating countries are allowed. But I didn’t ask official sources, so I haven’t confirmed that.) Https://t.co/y4L3sYErCH

– Darina (@darina_vymetali) May 21, 2022

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