The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is shaking the world. The Russian invasion of the Ukrainian country has unleashed a whole series of consequences at the international level, beyond politics. And it is that this event is having a great repercussion in the world of sport. While at the national level, the Ukrainian soccer league, which was to resume this Friday after the winter break this Friday, has already been officially suspended, UEFA has begun to take action on the matter. The highest body of European football, also condemns the military invasion of Russia in Ukraine, has announced that it will meet in an extraordinary way to decide, among other things, if the final of the Champions League on May 28 ends up being held at the Grazprom Arena, just as planned. As reported by the agency AP and the British newspaper The Times, UEFA would be studying dispensing with the Zenit stadium in Saint Petersburg as the venue and transferring the Champions League final to another country.
While there are already those who have made, or can make, decisions when it comes to the pitch, there are also clubs who have taken the initiative off it. This is the case of Schalke 04 and Manchester United, both with Russian sponsors behind them. In the case of the German team, the Gelsenkirchen team has reported on its social networks and through a statement what “In view of the events, development and escalation of the last few days, Schalke 04 has decided to remove the GAZPROM lettering from their shirts”. Gazprom, a gas company and the largest company in Russia, which gives its name to the aforementioned Zenit stadium. For its part, the Mancunian team, as reported exclusively by the British newspaper Daily Star, would have decided to cancel the sponsorship agreement with the Russian airline Aeroflot after the invasion of Ukraine. And it is that the Glazers, American owners of Manchester United, could face serious political consequences “if the US government decides to impose sanctions on Russian companies”.
Also in the world of football there have been numerous personalities who have manifested themselves after the outbreak of the conflict. From players and coaches trapped in the Ukrainian country, as is the case of Paulo Fonseca, former Roma coach, or the Brazilian players of Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Kiev, to Ukrainian footballers and former footballers, such as Oleksandr Zinchenko or Andriy Shevchenko , they have wanted to denounce their situation, as well as send messages of support to the country that is being invaded and attacked by Russia.
The Euroleague and Formula 1, in suspense
In basketball, and even though the Euroleague has issued a statement in which he announces that the calendar “will continue its course as planned except when the integrity of the teams is at risk”, FC Barcelona has decided to stay in Barcelona. Saras Jasikevicius’s team, which had a scheduled flight today at 2:30 p.m. to play the match against Zenit tomorrow at 6:00 p.m., “has decided not to travel to Saint Petersburg today”, as dictated by the note published by the Blaugrana team. Both the Euroleague and Barça have announced that urgent meetings are planned between the member-clubs and the parties involved, in order to “analyze the evolution of the events and make any decision, if necessary”.
Although the directorates of the different clubs, organizations and sporting establishments are already making decisions as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there are those who think about the future consequences that this conflict may have. This is the case Sebastian Vettel, Formula 1 driver, who has stated that he will not go to the Russian Grand Prix, held in Sochi, despite the fact that it will not be held until next September: “I must not go, it is a mistake to run there and I feel sorry for the innocents who are going to lose their lives due to stupid reasons and strange and crazy leadership”.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has also affected other sports such as tennis, whose Davis Cup tie between the Ukrainian national team and Barbados has been transferred to Turkey, or to a lesser extent rugby, since the men’s match between Georgia and Russia scheduled for Sunday in Tbilisi has been canceled by the body Rugby Europe but the match between the Lionesses and Russia, corresponding to the Women’s European Cup, remains as planned. In addition, the International Olympic Committee has charged against Russia for breaching the Olympic Truce, which must be extended until seven days after the Paralympic Games.
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