Global politics

Subterms

    More stories

    • 175 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Red tape ‘holding up’ £2.34billion in aid for Ukraine from sale of Chelsea FC

      by

      RED tape is said to be holding up £2.34billion in aid for Ukraine from the sale of Chelsea FC.The cash was pledged when Roman Abramovich was barred from benefiting from offloading the club.
      The £2.34billion in aid was pledged when Roman Abramovich was barred from benefiting from offloading ChelseaCredit: Getty
      It should have gone to good causes in Ukraine — but has been stuck in a sanctioned account since US tycoon Todd Boehly’s consortium paid £4.25billion for The Blues in May last year.
      The foundation set up to deliver the aid has said it cannot start work until it gets the green light from the UK and EU.
      Acting CEO Mike Penrose, former Unicef UK chief, said: “We’re ready to go and we’re just waiting for approval.
      “There are complexities and delays based around political approval both between the UK and the EU and within the UK.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      “We won’t make any decisions until we know the money’s coming. We don’t want to end up with a charity but no money.”
      Russian oil magnate Abramovich, 56, was forced to sell Chelsea when he ignored demands to condemn Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion last year.
      He agreed his share should go to good causes in Ukraine.
      The funds have been earmarked for medical, housing and educational projects.
      Most read in Football
      Five months ago, UK Foreign Office minister Leo Docherty told the Commons that he hoped the cash was “on the start of its journey to Ukraine”.
      The Foreign Office declined to comment last night.
      Canada, meanwhile, has said it plans to seize £21million in sanctioned Abramovich assets to divert to reconstruction projects in Ukraine. More

    • 250 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Russia must be stopped from forcing their way back into football and all sport until Putin ends massacre in Ukraine

      by

      RUSSIA must be stopped from forcing their way back into football — simple as that.Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine invalidates a return to humanity and should do so until he removes the troops he unleashed a year ago, who are still causing massive loss of life.
      Putin’s invasion of Ukraine means Russia must stay in the sporting wildernessCredit: AFP
      Gianni Infantino has displayed worrying signs he might let Russia back inCredit: Reuters
      For football fields, read killing fields. Any government with even a glimmer of morality must support Ukraine and their courageous people.
      That goes for all sport. Yet Fifa president Gianni Infantino is showing signs of relenting, while rogue states such as Syria and Iran are cuddling up to the Kremlin.
      Even more embarrassingly, Uefa are also said to be considering lifting the suspension, although Russia were not included in the current Euro qualifiers.
      Maybe both bodies are looking forward to the conclusion of the war, an eventuality that doesn’t seem to have affected Russian considerations so far, and certainly hasn’t Ukraine’s.
      MORE TOP FOOTBALL
      Why should it? The massacres in Ukraine make nonsense of the late Liverpool manager Bill Shankly’s dry half-joke that people think football much more serious than life and death.
      Five of the Stans of central Asia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — once possessions of the Russian empire — have already agreed to play their former landlords.
      The whole quintet are in arid, just-about-inhabitable lands so no wonder the Russians weren’t too bothered about handing them independence.
      Like them, Syria and Iran are in Fifa.
      Most read in Football
      Indeed, Iran beat Syria in the qualifying rounds for the Qatar World Cup, in which Iran played.
      Fifa have to juggle their politics but it would be a breach of responsibility were they to stand at the touchline of the current war and open competition for the evil Putin’s teams.
      Putin is the rotten core at the heart of Russia.
      But now, incredibly, the IOC are considering whether the country’s athletes should be allowed to compete under the national flag at the Paris Games in 2024.
      Lord Sebastian Coe, president of World  Athletics, is having none of this. He didn’t win two Olympic golds to watch his sport descend into hypocrisy.
      Gianni ‘I feel like a woman’ Infantino has not committed to official Russian entry into the bloated World Cup 2026 in North America.
      Football must have nothing to do with the Kremlin until the bombs stop dropping, the kidnapped children are sent home and the tanks trundle back.
      Awarded the Russian Order of Friendship, it seems that the friendship might have become less friendly, although not enough for Gianni to return the medal pinned on him by Putin himself in 2019.
      Infantino has practically been voted president unanimously (how does he do that?) and continues to see himself as a well-dressed world leader in white shoes with an even whiter reputation.
      He failed though when he tried to silence the bloody sounds of war for the month of the Qatar competition.
      Gross naivety, gross vanity.
      Neither Putin nor Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s leader, appear to have given a moment of thought to a truce.
      Putin has all the principles of a starving rat and would have used the month to rebuild his stock of weaponry.
      Poor repressed Belarus would have helped and Iran-made drones flown in by the thousand.
      Read More on The Sun
      Ukraine, the excellent Shakhtar Donetsk and others, continue to play to a background of war.
      Football must have nothing to do with the Kremlin until the bombs stop dropping on factories, schools, hospitals and homes, until all the kidnapped children are sent home and until the tanks trundle back over the border. More

    • 200 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Boxing legend Klitschko blasts Olympic bosses’ decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under ‘neutral flag’

      by

      WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO has accused Olympic boss Thomas Bach of “serving the interests of Russia” by offering their athletes a way back.Yesterday the International Olympic Committee set out recommendations for sporting bodies to allow individuals, but not teams, from Russia and Belarus to take part in competitions under a neutral flag.
      Wladimir Klitschko accused Olympic boss Thomas Bach of ‘serving the interests of Russia’ by offering their athletes a way backCredit: AFP
      A decision on whether they can compete at Paris 2024 has not yet been taken.
      But former Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Klitschko, who is fighting invading Russian troops in his homeland, slammed the proposals.
      Klitschko, 47, said: “The IOC authorises the athletes to participate in the Olympic Games under ‘neutral flags’. This decision is a false flag.
      “Thomas Bach serves the colours and interests of Russia. This decision contaminates the Olympic spirit and is like this war — a nonsense.”
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      Klistchko’s swipe comes after the sad death of 22-year-old Ukrainian boxer Maksym Galinichev.
      Galinichev, a European amateur champion, was killed in battle against the Russian Army near Kreminna.
      Klitschko, who became super-heavyweight Olympic champion at the 1996 Atlanta Games, also pointedly re-tweeted old images of Bach laughing and talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko.
      The IOC’s Executive Board have considered the findings of a four-month consultation.
      Most read in Boxing
      Speaking in Lausanne, IOC president Bach said: “We see that in a number of sports — tennis, cycling, handball, football, ice hockey — it’s already working.
      “You see athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport participating in competitions, even against Ukrainian athletes.”
      International Olympic Committee president Thomas BachCredit: AFP More

    • 250 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      England and Ukraine make powerful call for peace in front of cheering Wembley as allies go head-to-head in Euros clash

      by

      ENGLAND players and fans have united to honour Ukraine with a poignant tribute ahead of tonight’s Euro qualifier.Players from both teams called for peace before the match in a powerful show of solidarity, holding a Ukrainian flag with the word “peace” written on it.
      England and Ukraine players called for peace before the match in a powerful show of solidarity
      An Ukrainian fan makes a plea to PM Rishi SunakCredit: AP
      Ukraine players warming up ahead of the gameCredit: PA
      Ukraine supporters cheer and wave their flagsCredit: AFP
      Harry Kane led his Three Lions’ teammates in sending a message of peace following Russia’s invasion of the country.
      Wembley erupted in a sea of blue and yellow as the Ukrainian flag was beamed across the stadium.
      The Ukrainian team draped themselves in flags as they took to the pitch.
      Fans held Ukrainian flags aloft as an emotional rendition of the national anthem echoed through the stadium.
      Read more on the Ukraine war
      Former Blues star and ex-Ukraine boss Andriy Shevchenko shared his moving thoughts on the Ukrainian people before the match kicked off: “In very difficult moments, we have united all together.”
      England’s record goal scorer and team captain Harry Kane said on Channel 4: “It’s been a magical few days after the amazing result the other night. We’ve had a few days to settle down and recover well to look forward to an important game.”
      He emphasised the significance of the match against Ukraine tonight: “It will be a special night. I will have my wife and kids with me walking out to have a picture. We’ve got an important game so I’m trying not to think about it too much.”
      Tribute was also paid to Jack Leslie, who was dropped from the 1925 England squad because of his skin colour.
      Most read in Football
      His family was presented with the posthumous honorary England cap.
      England boss Gareth Southgate told Kelly Somers on Channel 4: “We’re clearly hugely respectful of everything that’s happening [in Ukraine]. There’s a lot of tributes, sympathies and support for Ukraine.
      “It is a game of football and there are of course a lot of important things going on in the world but our focus has to remain on this. ”
      More than 1,000 refugees and their host families have been invited to tonight’s game as special guests.
      The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) joined with the FA to secure the free tickets as a thank you to Brit families who opened their doors to refugees.
      Bear Grylls, who recently travelled to Ukraine to create a documentary on the war and interview Volodymyr Zelensky, also attended the game.
      Around 4,200 Ukraine fans will be cheering their country on when the game kicks off at 5pm.
      It is the first time time the team has played England since Euro 2020 when they lost 4-0.
      The team faced a nightmare 16-hour trip to Wembley for the match after the war closed Ukrainian airspace.
      Some of the starting 11 endured a gruelling 11 hour and 45 minute train journey from Ukraine capital Kyiv to Przemysl in Poland.
      That was followed by a 50-mile, two-hour bus trek to Rzeszow in south-eastern Poland.
      Then came a two hour and nine minute Ryanair flight to London Stansted before another 70-mile, 90-minute bus ride to the team’s Syon Park Hilton hotel.
      Roslan Rotan’s squad have been training Brentford’s base in London since Monday.
      The team have faced a number of other issues – including having to play in empty stadiums and air-raid siren interruptions.
      But Rotan insists any challenges are dwarfed by their “defenders and warriors” facing Russian invaders on the front line.
      Tonight’s match comes just over a year after Vladimir Putin stunned the world when he sent troops across the border.
      His brutal invasion saw hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians displaced as the war raged on.
      An FA spokesman said before the game: “The occasion is an opportunity to show solidarity with the Three Lions’ opponents.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, the football world has come together and Sunday’s fixture will welcome some of those displaced from their own country.
      ”Both sets of players will come together before kick-off to send a message of peace.”
      Ukrainian fans watched with banners showing their flag coloursCredit: Getty
      England’s James Maddison warming up ahead of the gameCredit: PA
      The war has raged on for a year now since Putin invaded
      Thousands of Ukrainians have been displaced More

    • 275 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      We don’t care about the England result, we just want 90 minutes where we can forget about the war says Ukraine fan

      by

      UKRAINE’S visit to Wembley tomorrow is about far more than just their bid to reach Euro 2024.For the thousands of Ukranians living in the UK, it is a chance to get a small feeling of home and remind the world of the terrors being inflicted on those under invasion from Russia.
      England will take on Ukraine on Sunday
      At least 4,000 Ukraine fans are expected to be in attendance
      Ruslan Rotan wants to offer fans a shot of hope
      More than 3,000 tickets have been sold in the away end while The FA have donated a further 1,000 to refugees.
      Manager Ruslan Rotan wants his side to offer a shot of hope for those in the stands with family suffering back home, and those watching from afar.
      Soldiers on the front line tuned in to watch their World Cup play-off victory over Scotland last year, and it makes a difference – however small.
      Stefan Luczka, a British-Ukrainian who is the chairman of the UK Ukrainian Sports Supporters Club, lives in Luton but has an uncle battling on the front line.
      Read More Football
      He told SunSport: “Any sort of morale boost will help.
      “Everything at the moment in terms of Ukraine is negative, in terms of being pummelled and bombarded with missiles.
      “Any sort of positivity or morale boost, not just for the guys on the front line it’s just a massive uplift. Any bit of positivity, winning or positive result.
      “Sport brings people together, 90 minutes to stop thinking about, ‘When I wake up in the morning, will I still have a house? Will a missile fall on my head or will I need to go and fight because Russia are coming closer and closer?'”
      Most read in Football
      Luczka also hopes that occasions such as tomorrow, as well as any successful qualification for a major tournament, will offer a huge boost to those seeking support as coverage abroad naturally ebbs away over time.
      He said: “It would be absolutely phenomenal if we could qualify.
      “It is always a massive positive to make a major tournament, but added to that the extra meaning of it because of the war, it would be a massive boost of positivity to Ukrainians around the world.
      “It highlights to the rest of the world that Ukrainians are fighting, metaphorically, on the pitch as they are on the front line.”
      For a community having to watch their country suffer from afar, Sunday is about far more than just three points towards qualification, however.
      Luczka said: “The UK has been phenomenal in its support. That’s why on Sunday I’m not really bothered about the football.
      “It’s about Ukrainians getting together and even showing appreciation. If we can get even a message of thanks, for your support.”
      There is also ongoing support from the footballing family in England too.
      Today, the England Fans team will play a team of Ukrainian supporters in the ‘John Motson Memorial Cup’, raising funds and collecting donations to support those in need in Ukraine.
      Read More on The Sun
      A similar fundraising fixture was arranged last March, a month after the invasion, which saw England fans raise enough to drive two ambulances to Ukraine, both packed with humanitarian aid essentials, a trip supporters are hoping to repeat ahead of the return fixture in September.
      Luczka added: “It is football fans acting in the right spirit, it is what football should be.” More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Harry Kane reveals special boots he’ll wear for England vs Ukraine with nod to record and touching tribute

      by

      HARRY KANE has revealed the special boots he will wear against Ukraine – and they include a reference to his goal-scoring record. The striker netted his 54th goal for England against Italy as he scored from the spot.
      It’s been a good week for the England striker who has left all the drama at club side Tottenham behindCredit: Getty
      Kane’s colourful boots contain several interesting elementsCredit: Getty
      The star makes reference to both his scoring record and his children on his trainersCredit: Getty
      The goal took him one clear of Wayne Rooney and made him the Three Lions outright, all-time top scorer in the country’s history.
      Ahead of tomorrow’s game against Ukraine at Wembley, his boots for that match have been revealed and contain the number “54” at the back of the shoe.
      The flashy boots are largely in white but contain a tapestry of colourful words, images and shapes from the laces to the sole of the trainers.
      Phrases such as “all time top scorer” and “captain” can be seen, along with several small union jacks.
      READ MORE IN ENGLAND
      Most notably of all though is the wonderful tribute Kane, 29, leaves for his three kids.
      Their names – “Vivi”, which is short for Vivienne, “Ivy” and “Louis” are visible in small black letters on the sides of the boots.
      Their dates of birth are also visible alongside their name.
      Kane married childhood sweetheart Katie Goodland in 2019 and the two have three young children.
      Most read in Football
      FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
      Ivy is the oldest at six, Vivienne is four and Louis is two.
      Kane’s family will be cheering on the star when he takes to the field at Wembley tomorrow.
      Victory in Naples has given England the perfect start to European Championship qualifying but Ukraine, with Premier League stars like Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mykhailo Mudryk in their ranks, are likely to provide tough opposition.
      It is Ukraine’s first game in England since Russia invaded at the beginning of last year.
      The names and dates of birth of Kane’s children are visible on the bootCredit: Getty
      Kane’s ’54’ goals are referenced on the back of his left bootCredit: Getty More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Football international joins Putin’s hooligan unit in Ukraine as battalion led by ultra dubbed The Spaniard boosts ranks

      by

      A FORMER football star has joined an army unit of Russian hooligans on the frontline in Ukraine.It comes as the battalion – led by an ultra dubbed The Spaniard – steps up recruitment in a desperate bid to boost ranks as Russian invaders continue to meet stiff Ukrainian resistance.
      Russia is stepping up recruitment of football hooligans to join the battalionCredit: East2West
      Former Russian international footballer Andrey Solomatin, right, has been recruitedCredit: East2West
      The unit is led by Stanislav Orlov, dubbed The SpaniardCredit: East2West
      The brigade, named Espanola, is filled with thugs from the terraces and has now been given special status among armed forces backing Vladimir Putin.
      Hooligans were recruited too, but now the unit is classed as a separate private military company, with the go-ahead to expand recruitment.
      The ultras are urged: “Get into the coolest adventures of your life with a real chance to come back alive from these scrapes.”
      They are promised a “decent reward” for turning their violent instincts on Ukraine.
      More on Russia
      Former Russian international footballer Andrey Solomatin, 47, has signed up.
      He played for Moscow clubs CSKA and Lokomotiv.
      Stanislav Orlov, commander of Española private military company, said: “We were volunteers, then part of the DPR [Donetsk People’s Republic] forces.
      “Recently we managed to get separate status. So now we do not belong to any battalions or divisions.”
      Most read in Football
      Orlov, whose call sign is “Spaniard”, said they had been given approval to create a separate battalion, Espanola.
      The hooligans’ battalion is 550 strong, including 100 operators of kamikaze drones used to attack Ukraine, he said.
      The fighters say they are being equipped by football supporters from across Russia.
      Orlov said: “There are a huge number of them.
      “All over Russia, in fact – in different cities there are different football teams.
      “We tell them what we need [and they provide it].”
      Five years ago, Putin’s regime desperately tried to crackdown on Russian hooligans and ultras – using an FSB crackdown to stop them ruining the FIFA World Cup, which Putin hosted.
      In 2016, Russian hooligans were in pitch battles with English fans at the UEFA Euro tournament in France.
      Now they are formalised as an armed force, and seen as heroes.
      Espanola is currently recruiting “stormtroopers”, scout-saboteurs, snipers, drone operators, electronic warfare and air defence operators, portable ground reconnaissance station operators, anti-tank guided missile operators, anti aircraft specialists, communications specialists, mechanic-drivers, and medics.
      Would-be fighters are told they will “take a quick but deep course of study in all directions with a real opportunity – or rather the need – to become a ‘universal soldier’.”
      They will “become a real military man and benefit the Motherland without delay”.
      And the stadium fighters will “get access and learn how to work with the most modern weapons, equipment and technologies”.
      Sniper detachments “are provided with all the most advanced technologies — this applies to transport, equipment, and of course [guns].”
      Recruits are told they “may not be hooligans, but they should be close to us in spirit and comply with the main principles of Española in life”.
      Recruitment sessions have been held in Moscow and St Petersburg, as well as other cities.
      They boast recruits from the hooligan armies of clubs like CSKA, Zenit, Spartak, Torpedo and Lokomotiv and the notorious Orel Butchers.
      Several are known to have died so far in the war, including CSKA Moscow fan Maxim Shmanin, 44.
      Read More on The Sun
      It comes as Moscow attempts to enlist women prisoners and kids in a desperate war effort.
      Putin has already deployed convicted murderers and rapists in his desire to wipe the state of Ukraine off the map. 
      Solomatin, 47, played for Moscow clubs CSKA and LokomotivCredit: East2West
      The hooligans’ battalion is 550 strongCredit: East2West
      Recruitment sessions have been held in Moscow and St PetersburgCredit: East2West
      The brigade, named Espanola, is filled with thugs from the terracesCredit: East2West More

    • 150 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Vladimir Putin gives Russian citizenship to two Brazilian footballers including ex-Barcelona star

      by

      VLADIMIR PUTIN has given two Brazilian football stars Russian citizenship.Ex-Barcelona winger Malcom, who interested Arsenal and Tottenham, plus midfielder Claudinho are key men for Russian top-flight leaders Zenit.
      Malcom was tipped as a future Brazil hero when he joined Barcelona in 2018 but the Zenit player has now accepted Russian citizenshipCredit: Getty
      Claudinho, seen tangling with Chelsea’s Reece James in the Champions League in December 2021, can also now get a Russian passportCredit: Getty
      It’s claimed both former Brazil under-23 internationals wanted their new status for tax reasons.
      But Zenit were quick to celebrate after the pair were amongst 38 foreigners granted citizenship by a special decree from Russian president Putin on Friday.
      The Saint Petersburg club stated: “Everyone at Zenit congratulates Malcom and Claudinho on becoming citizens of Russia. 
      “We wish them the best of luck and many more victories with the blue-white-sky blues!”
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Putin’s decision might be seen as a propaganda move, exactly a year after he launched his country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
      And Dmitry Khomukha, the ex-head coach of the Russian youth team, suggested the two players were motivated only by money.
      Khomukha, who won 15 caps for Turkmenistan, is now boss of Russian third-tier club FC Kaluga.
      Just before the duo’s citizenship was granted, Sport24 quoted the 53-year-old as saying: “I have a negative attitude towards the naturalization of football players.
      Most read in Football
      “Especially in the current situation that the national team does not participate in the tournaments and the foreign transfer has nothing to do with football.
      “Here the monetary interests of the players themselves play a role. Income tax will be reduced to 15 per cent, but now they pay much more – this is the main reason.”
      Former Bordeaux hero Malcom, 25, was linked with Premier League clubs before joining Zenit from Barca in 2019.
      And Claudinho, 26, switched from Brazilian top-flight team Red Bull Bragantino to Zenit two years ago.
      Vladimir Putin gave Russian citizenship to 38 people by decreeCredit: AFP More