The Russian invasion of Ukraine is at the forefront of all news outlets, including sports considering the wave of support footballers from the country is receiving from various leagues worldwide are getting.
Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s FA Cup match against Middlesborough FC, manager Antonio Conte was asked about the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Italian tactician stated that talking about a war in 2022 is something he can’t comprehend.
“It’s a very sad situation,” Conte told a news conference. “We are in 2022, and to talk about the possibility (of) being at war is incredible. It’s incredible, and at the same time, it’s stupid, only to think about this. We need peace…, not people dying.”
“The war for sure is not an answer (to) anything. The whole world has to be compact, show (solidarity) against the stupidity of people.”
On the sporting side, the invasion has already cost Russia from hosting the UEFA Champions League final. It was initially supposed to be hosted in Saint Petersburg, but it has since been moved to Paris at the Stade de France.
Russian club teams are being barred from participating in UEFA competitions as FC Spartak Moscow was kicked out of the Europa League.
Furthermore, FIFA and UEFA have been banned from all competitions, so the Russian national team is unable to compete in the playoff to qualify for the World Cup later this year.
