isolated from the world. What happened to Russian sports in March

In March, Russian sports found themselves in a difficult position due to sanctions caused by a special operation in Ukraine. RUSSIA was deprived of international competitions, athletes were left without sponsors, and clubs were on the verge of bankruptcy.Vladimir Putin and ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO Ban on speeches by Russians

Athletes from Russia are indefinitely suspended from almost all international competitions. Among them are the world championships in football, hockey, figure skating, European football and basketball championships, Davis and Billie Jean King Cups (tennis), Biathlon and skiing World Cups, and many others.

International sports organizations also impose personal sanctions . Grandmaster Sergey Karyakin was disqualified for six months for a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin supporting the special operation. Karjakin will miss the Candidates Tournament for the right to fight for the world chess crown.

Lost the Russian racer "Formula 1" - the world championship in circuit racing. The Haas team terminated the contract with the title sponsor - the Uralkali company - and the pilot Nikita Mazepin.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) allowed the Russians to participate in races in a neutral status upon signing the relevant document. However, the Russian racers refused to sign a document, according to which the participants were forbidden to publicly use the words "Russia" and "Belarus" and related adjectives during and outside the competition.

Also, riders were forbidden to express support for the actions of Russia and / or Belarus in relation to Ukraine. The document states that even if all the conditions are met, the FIA ​​can apply additional measures to the signatories, including not being allowed to race, and the pilot must accept and comply with all decisions of the organization.

Russians are allowed only to some starts and in a neutral status, for example, to individual tennis and chess tournaments. But even the world tennis star Daniil Medvedev will be admitted to Wimbledon only after his written guarantees. This was announced by the Minister of sports of Great Britain Nigel Huddleston.

“We have made a request to the governing bodies regarding individual athletes that they (Russians or Belarusians), if they want to compete in the UK, be truly independent and neutral. We want confirmation of this in a written statement that they are not receiving money from Putin, Russia or Belarus and that they will not speak favorably of Putin, Russia or Belarus,” Huddleston explained.

He clarified that if the leaders of any sports organizations prefer not to allow Russians and Belarusians to their tournaments, the government will support such a decision. “The policy of the UK government is that Russia  is a pariah on the world stage when it comes to sports. The Russians should be treated as outcasts, and this remains in force, ”the Mirror quotes the Minister of Sports of the UK as saying.

Only Russians playing for NHL teams and European football leagues have not yet been affected by restrictions.

Life under sanctions. How the operation in Ukraine affected Russian sports Others

Suspension of federations

In recent days, international sports federations have been using the suspension of Russian federations as sanctions.

Russia's membership was suspended by the International Biathlon Union (IBU), the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), the International Sport Climbing Federation (IFSC).

However, the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) has been deprived of the status of a permanent member of the IBU since December 2017 due to a large number of doping cases.

The President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), Stanislav Pozdnyakov, said that the IBU decision "is not based on any legal document" and "creates a dangerous precedent for all other all-Russian sports federations."

So far, the procedure for suspending the membership of Russian sports federations is not widespread. For example, the International Football Federation (FIFA) did not even consider such an option.

Will Russia be expelled from FIFA? What to expect from the Congress of the Football Federation Football

Forfeiting the competition

All international competitions scheduled for the current year have been postponed from Russia. These are the Champions League final, the Formula 1 Grand Prix stage, the volleyball world championship, the youth ice hockey world championship, the European championships in curling, shooting and clay shooting, the skiing World Cup stage, the World Chess Olympiad and others.

Departure of foreign partners

Sports equipment manufacturer Adidas has suspended cooperation with the Russian Football Union (RFU). The German company has been a technical partner of the Russian national teams since 2008. The contract was calculated until 2026.

Another German firm, Puma, has froze relations with the Russian Basketball Federation (RFB).

Several companies terminated personal contracts with Russian athletes.

Canadian equipment manufacturer CCM refused to cooperate with hockey players, including Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.

French ski manufacturer Rossignol has suspended contracts with three-time Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov and other Russians.

The German glove brand Kinetixx has terminated sponsorship contracts with the Russian Ski Racing Federation and several athletes, including Bolshunov.

The British company Speedo, which produces equipment for swimming, has stopped working with two-time Olympic champion Evgeny Rylov.

What problems may Russian hockey players face in the NHL Hockey

Departure of the Legionnaires

By the beginning of March, more than 50 foreigners - players, coaches and other specialists - had left Russian sports clubs. In the future, their number increased.

Only RPL clubs left 39 legionnaires. Some of the remaining on the field do not appear.

Rubin and Krasnodar, which plays without foreigners at all, suffered the greatest losses. As part of Rostov, only the Gambian Ali Sow enters the field. So far, only CSKA, Sochi and Krylya Sovetov have managed without losses.

Four semi-finalists of the KHL championship play in almost optimal lineups. Nobody left SKA and Traktor. Metallurg goalkeeper Juho Olkinuora left, but Vasily Koshechkin is no worse than the Finn. Swedish forwards Lukas Wallmark and Joakim Nordstrom left CSKA, but the team has not yet noticed their absence, having won both series 4–0.

Many of the clubs that lost in the second round of the playoffs suffered more serious losses. "Salavat Yulaev" lost all legionnaires in general. Avangard - two Finnish defenders: Oliver Kaski and Ville Pokki. Only Swedish forward Oscar Lindberg played for Dynamo (another Swede Andre Petersson and Canadian Eric O'Dell left, while their compatriots Anton Vedin and Rob Klinkhammer were in the infirmary). "Spartak" escaped with a "light fright", losing only the Canadian striker Jake Virtanen.

More than 50 people. Which of the foreigners left the Russian sports clubs Football

Departure of foreign teams

Domestic hockey and basketball leagues have the status of Russian open championships, that is, teams from other countries can take part in these competitions.

Dynamo Riga will definitely not play in the next KHL championship. Most likely, there will be no Jokerit in the league either. The Finns withdrew from the playoffs this season, although their withdrawal from the KHL has not yet been announced.

The Estonian "Kalev" and the Polish "Zelena Gora" left the VTB United League.

Finances, legionnaires, contracts. What problems may face KHL Hockey

Funding problems

RPL President Ashot Khachaturyants warned that some clubs may not finish the current championship.

According to Match TV, the players of Krasnodar responded to the request of the club's management and went for a pay cut due to the difficult financial situation of the owner of Krasnodar, Sergei Galitsky, due to the blocking of accounts in Europe. However, the goalkeeper of Krasnodar and the Russian national team Matvey Safonov denied this information.

RBC experts believe that sanctions could lead to the bankruptcy of a number of clubs and a rollback to the 1990s.

In hockey, the season for most teams has already ended, but probably not everyone will take part in the next championship. This is evidenced at least by the fact that the meeting of the Board of Directors of the KHL, which approves the composition of the participants in the next championship, has not yet taken place. In previous years it took place in March.

According to RBC sources, Severstal may leave the KHL for at least a year due to financial problems.

It has already been announced that the budgetary financing of the Sibir club will be reduced, which in 2022 will receive 91 million rubles. less than in 2021.

NBA finalist banned from playing for national team after transfer to CSKA

Union with Belarus

The same sanctions also affected Belarusian sports, which are already being integrated with Russian ones. For example, athletes from Belarus take part in the Russian biathlon championship, which is currently taking place in Tyumen. It is also known that Russia and Belarus decided to create a unified handball league.

Since the first season (2008), Dynamo MINSK has been playing in the KHL. In mid-March, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of Belarus discussed the appearance of the second Belarusian team in the league. In Belarus, they also announced the possible participation of the country's teams in the Russian football championship.