Guardian: RFU demanded from UEFA to remove the head coach of the Ukrainian national team

The Russian Football Union (RFU) sent a letter to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) demanding the removal of the head coach of the Ukrainian national team Oleksandr Petrakov due to discrimination against Russians, the newspaper reports. The Guardian. The RFS claims that Petrakov is not able to maintain a neutral political position.

The dissatisfaction of the Russian side was caused by the words of the Ukrainian coach about his readiness to take up arms to defend Kyiv. In particular, in an April interview The Guardian Petrakov said that at 64 he “could kill two or three enemies.” He also stated that he “hates the people who have invaded their land”. His interview was also published by the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport. In May “Sport-Express” spread Petrakov’s words that “Russians should be removed from all sports competitions for at least five years.”

RFU Deputy Secretary General Denis Rogachev argues that Petrakov’s comments violate FIFA and UEFA codes prohibiting “any discrimination against the country.” The Guardian notes that the representative of the RFU in his “carefully worded letter” does not mention the Russian military operation in Ukraine. “The statements by the head coach of the Ukrainian national football team Oleksandr Petrakov were made against the backdrop of a political conflict between the two countries – Russia and Ukraine – and represent a political message that clearly violates the fundamental principle of political neutrality,” Mr. Rogachev wrote.

The letter says that the behavior of the head coach of Ukraine “can be regarded as participation in inciting public hatred on a national basis”, as well as “using football to defend political views.” The RFU is convinced that Petrakov actually made a “call for violence” and that his comments are “discriminatory”. The RFU recalls the precedent when an employee of the Azerbaijan Football Federation was suspended for life and fined €100,000 for calling for violence against Armenians.

A UEFA spokesman said he “could not comment on individual cases”. The RFU did not comment on the information. The Guardian clarifies that the complaint filed by UEFA will have to be supported by a majority of the leaders of the union (the UEFA leadership includes the president, two vice-presidents and another three to seven members).

After Russia launched a military special operation in Ukraine, UEFA actually dismissed Russian clubs from participating in European competitions, and the Russian national team from the League of Nations. First to play with the Russians after suspension agreed Bosnia and Herzegovina football team. A friendly match between the two teams is scheduled for November 19 in St. Petersburg. Ukraine asked UEFA and FIFA ban this match.

On the removal of Russians from the competition – in the material “Kommersant” “Russia was hit on a football place”.

Laura Keffer