7:15 p.m.: French volleyball players will not go to the World Cup in Russia
The French volleyball federation announced on Saturday that the French, Olympic champions, would not go to the World Cup in Russia next August. Unlike other international bodies, the International Volleyball Federation had indicated that the World Cup would not be relocated. To which the Frenchman Earvin Ngapeth replied “without me, thank you” on Twitter in the morning.
7:00 p.m .: Hans-Joachim Watzke, vice-president of the German football federation, offers to help Schalke if the club separates from Gazprom
Hans-Joachim Watzke, who is also president of Borussia Dortmund, has suggested that the federation help Schalke 04 financially should the club decide to part ways with Russian sponsor Gazprom. A few hours after the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Schalke, Dortmund’s historic rival, announced its decision to withdraw Gazprom from its jerseys.
6:30 p.m .: Manchester City and Everton pay tribute to Ukraine, Oleksandr Zinchenko in tears
While the two clubs, who met at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, paid a vibrant tribute to Ukraine before the start of the match, Oleksandr Zinchenko was taken by emotion on the bench.
4:10 p.m .: Russian flag and anthem banned in the Biathlon World Cup
The International Biathlon Federation (IBU) decided on Saturday to ban the anthems and flags of Russia and Belarus during World Cup events, in accordance with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
“No Russian or Belarusian national flag, symbol or emblem may be displayed” in competitions organized by the IBU, announced the body, which also specified that “the combinations must be of neutral colors and patterns and not to display a national emblem or flag”.
3:52 p.m .: Like Poland, Sweden refuses to play against Russia in the play-offs
Sweden will refuse to face Russia if the two teams were to meet in the qualifying round of the World Cup-2022, to protest against the invasion of Ukraine, the Swedish football federation announced on Saturday.
“Whatever Fifa decides, we will not play against Russia in March,” FIFA president Karl-Erik Nilsson said in a statement. Poland, which was to face the Russians in Moscow on March 24 in the semi-final of this dam, has already announced that it will not play this match, the winner of which would then face Sweden or the Czech Republic.
3:45 p.m .: Gazprom’s sponsorship contract with UEFA in question
UEFA is considering breaking its sponsorship contract with Russian gas giant Gazprom, in the face of military intervention in Ukraine, according to AFP information. The continental football body “is preparing” to end this partnership in place since 2012, and must make this decision during an executive committee meeting “next week”, it was specified from the same source. .
According to The Times and The Telegraph, in particular, UEFA, meeting urgently on Friday in an extraordinary executive committee, asked its lawyers to launch the process of immediate termination of the contract binding it with the gas giant, majority owned by the Russian state. . The specialized media evaluate the contract linking UEFA to Gazprom at 40 million euros per year.
3:30 p.m .: Robert Lewandowski approves the decision to cancel the Poland-Russia match
The Polish striker from Bayern Munich agreed with his federation, which decided to cancel its play-off meeting for the World Cup against Russia. “It’s the right decision,” he tweeted. “I can’t imagine playing a game against the Russian national team in a situation where armed aggression in Ukraine continues.”
2:50 p.m .: Ukrainian tennis player Dayana Yastremska left her country and took refuge in France
2:45 p.m .: Dinamo Moscow supporters support their Ukrainian coach Andrey Voronin, who was put on leave today
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1:25 p.m .: The Volleyball World Cup maintained in Russia, Ngapeth reacts
Despite the military conflict in Ukraine, the FIVB has decided to maintain the world championship in Russia in August. Earvin Ngapeth let it be known via Twitter that he would prefer not to go there.
1:20 p.m .: Poland refuses to play the qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup against Russia
Poland “does not plan to play the play-off match” at the World Cup against Russia, scheduled for March 24 in Moscow, due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, the president of the federation announced on Saturday. Polish on Twitter.
“Enough talk, it’s time to act. Due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, the Poland team does not plan to play the play-off against the Russian team,” wrote Cezary Kulesza, adding that “it’s the only correct decision” and that he works with the Swedish and Czech federations to present a common position to FIFA.