World Cup opponents isolate Russia
Football shows Putin the red card
02/27/2022 1:46 p.m
Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic are boycotting the upcoming World Cup play-offs against Russia, Robert Lewandowski is suddenly political, BVB boss Watzke is showing solidarity with Schalke 04, UEFA is thinking about Gazprom: European football shows Putin’s Russia the red card.
European football showed Russia and the aggressor Vladimir Putin the red card with great unanimity: World footballer Robert Lewandowski led the way with his clear stance. “Russia’s footballers and fans” are “not responsible” for Putin’s warmongering, the Bayern Munich striker said on Twitter: “But we can’t pretend that nothing happened.”
Therefore, for the captain of the Polish national team, it goes without saying that his team will not play against Russia in the World Cup play-offs on March 24. “Enough of the words, it’s time to act,” said Poland’s federation president Cezary Kulesza. “Due to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, Poland has no plans to play against the Russian team. This is the only right decision.” Sweden and the Czech Republic also announced a boycott of the possible game against the Russians at the weekend. A question from ntv.de about possible consequences for the three associations or Russia initially went unanswered by FIFA.
The French Football Federation FFF goes one step further. He wants to campaign for Russia to be excluded from the World Cup finals in Qatar (November 21 to December 18). The head of the association, Noel Le Graet, made this announcement in the newspaper “Le Parisien”. “The world of sport, and football in particular, cannot remain neutral. I will certainly not oppose Russia’s exclusion,” said Le Graet.
In almost every stadium in Europe, players and fans demonstrated against Putin’s war of aggression and expressed solidarity with Ukraine – also in Germany. In Fürth, players from the hosts and 1. FC Köln gathered behind a blue and yellow poster with the inscription “Stop War – we against war”. Similar scenes could be seen in many arenas.
The minute’s silence before the games in German professional football must have affected Danilo Sikan from Hansa Rostock, the only Ukrainian player in German professional football. He was called up from the start by Hansa coach Jens Härtel against 1. FC Nürnberg (0: 2): “That helps him to hide the situation a bit.”
UEFA decides on Gazprom deal
Not only is football showing solidarity, it is increasingly turning its back on Russia as Putin’s troops advance in Ukraine. In the background, UEFA already seems to be working on a big decision, while the world governing body FIFA is conspicuously holding back.
The European Football Union is apparently willing to separate from the major Russian sponsor Gazprom. According to information from the English Times, a resolution of the multi-million dollar contract is being worked on. UEFA did not deny the report, only saying: “Further meetings of the Executive Committee will take place shortly” and that “additional matters” would be dealt with at these meetings. The European governing body had already moved the Champions League final on May 28 from St. Petersburg to the Stade de France in St. Denis on Friday.
With the separation from Gazprom, UEFA would certainly make a great economic sacrifice. The cooperation, which has existed for ten years, will run until 2024, including the European Championship finals in Germany. It is estimated that UEFA has received between 40 and 48 million euros a year from the gas company.
What is Leipzig doing?
Second division club Schalke 04 had already decided on Thursday to remove the lettering of the major sponsor Gazprom from the jersey of the Royal Blues. In the 1-1 draw in Karlsruhe, the Knappen lined up with “Schalke 04” on their chests instead.
There may even be a league grant for the Royal Blues to make up for the loss. DFB interim president Hans-Joachim Watzke, chairman of the supervisory board of the German Football League (DFL) and club boss of Borussia Dortmund, had brought up support for Schalke from the other clubs in the current ZDF sports studio. Watzke emphasized that he was very happy that the new Schalke management “now clearly shows their attitude”. “In the end, I think, this could only lead to ending this sponsorship.”
The former DFL managing director Andreas Rettig meanwhile brought up a “democracy and peace tax” for German professional football. “In view of the dwindling social acceptance of football, I think that would be a good step to set an example,” said the 58-year-old.
Meanwhile, DFB presidential candidate Peter Peters emphasized the call for Russian football teams to be excluded from all competitions. “I can’t imagine anyone playing a game against a Russian team,” said the 59-year-old at the gym.
This is “neither negotiable nor responsible. Things have changed so much. It can’t go on like this.” A Bundesliga team could soon be affected themselves, because RB Leipzig was drawn to Russian representative Spartak Moscow in the Europa League in the round of 16 (10th and 17th March). That the duel really takes place is obviously becoming less likely by the day.