Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals shoots the puck against the New York Rangers during the second period at Capital One Arena on October 13, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Patrick Smith | Getty Images
Sports organizations and professional athletes are hitting Russia with their own kinds of sanctions as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military persists in its invasion of Ukraine.
The most consequential action, so far, has come from the world’s top soccer federation.
On Monday, FIFA joined the Union of European Football Associations to announce it would bar Russian teams from events, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, until further notice. That move came days after Poland and Sweden refused to play Russia in World Cup qualifying matches. The World Cup is scheduled to start in November.
The International Olympic Committee also recommended banning Russian teams from competitions for violating the “Olympic Truce.” Liberty Media-owned Formula One could relocate an event. The National Hockey League has spoken out, too.
“Sometimes sport is successful by using their leverage to turn things around,” said Dr. Harvey Schiller, former executive director of the U.S. Olympic Committee. “Every country now is part of a global economy,” he added. “And when you’re part of a global economy, and there’s been free exchange for so long, this (war in Ukraine) upset the apple cart.”
Focus on hockey
Out of the four major U.S. leagues, the NHL has the most ties to Russia due to its over two dozen Russian-born hockey players. The league said it supported its players days after Russian NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin was asked his thoughts on the matter and walked a tight line.
The Washington Capitals star said the invasion was out of his control, adding it’s a “sad situation right now for both sides.” Ovechkin called for “no more war” and noted, “I have a family back in Russia, and its scary moments.”
Meanwhile, retired NHL goaltending great Dominik Hasek, who is Czech, called for a more extreme measure, suggesting the NHL should suspend contracts of all Russian players.
Schiller, the longtime sports executive and former president of the former Atlanta Thrashers franchise, said that move would go too far.
“They should play, and that’s the appropriate thing,” Schiller said of Russian players staying in NHL competition. “These players are not oligarchs; they’re different. When you’re playing in the NHL, you’re not representing your country, you’re representing yourself.”
The NHL also suspended agreements with Russian companies. Last September, the NHL struck its first exclusive deal in Russia after agreeing to terms with sports betting company Liga Stavok. The league added it would stop Russian language social media and digital sites and wouldn’t consider Russia for future NHL events.
The NHL said it understands players “and their families are being placed in an extremely tough position” because Russia is an authoritarian country. Hence, players’ comments could endanger family members and risk their future in Russia.
But the league’s public stance on Russia could take a bit of pressure off NHL players being questioned about the matter.
“Business is not going to be as usual,” while the invasion persists, Schiller said. He added, “if I was a scout for the NHL, I’m not getting on a plane and going to Russia. That’s not going to happen.”
Trucks display electronic messages while protestors demonstrate outside United Nations headquarters, as inside diplomats hold an emergency session of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Manhattan in New York City, February 28, 2022.
Mike Segar | រ៉យទ័រ
Basketball, soccer and judo, too
Players in the WNBA also demonstrated their condemnation of Russia’s invasion.