Yesterday, news reached the world that English football club Chelsea has been directly and indirectly hit with sanctions by the UK government, and those somewhat unfair and unjustified sanctions were triggered by the purported involvement of club owner and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in Ukraine’s invasion by Russia.
Abramovich has had all of his assets frozen by the UK government, and as a result, Chelsea has directly and indirectly suffered.
It was announced yesterday that Chelsea cannot be sold as it stands (although Abramovich can apply for a special licence to sell off the club). It cannot sell tickets (although season ticket holders will be permitted, because those transactions have already occurred).
The club’s megastore in London has also been closed, and they will not be able to buy new players or offer new contracts. They are limited to spending £20 000 on away travel, which puts into doubt European away ties. Broadcasting and merit payments to the club can be received, but they will be frozen.
All these cruel sanctions on Chelsea are a result of the Ukraine/Russia political crisis and have nothing to do with the athletes who are professionally plying their trade for the club. The Ukraine/Russia turmoil is a pure political issue, and one that emanates from ruined historical and political ties between the two countries.
But as characteristic of Europeans and their allies, they have chosen to crookedly use all available avenues at their disposal to suppress Russia and all things Russian.
Russian athletes at all spheres of sport have suffered the same fate, by either having their contacts terminated or being banned from participating as individuals or clubs in events falling under various international sports bodies such as Fifa, Uefa and F1; among others.
The actions by many European countries against Russian athletes and clubs calls for condemnation, because they are unfairly using sport to further divide the world.
As I have been constantly saying, there are two sets of rules for the world of sport and the sooner we realise that, the better.
On the one hand, it is okay for the UK and other European governments to freely meddle in sport matters without any repercussions
from Fifa or Uefa. But if an African government does the same, Fifa is always the first one to sound warning shots from
Zurich. So, when is appropriate to use sport as a tool to diffuse tension, and are those powers reserved for a selected few? And who decides the appropriateness of mixing sport with politics?
Are we, or at least the Europeans, finally admitting that the line between sport and politics is blurred and encompasses many contradictions? Well, answers to those questions are all around us and obvious for all to see.