Sports leagues flex soft power against Russia over invasion
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 it’s scary moments.”
Ovechkin, a three-time NHL MVP, said: “I hope soon, it’s going to be over, and it’s going to be peace in the whole world.”
But Ovechkin received backlash for not condemning Putin, the Russian president. “I’m not involved in politics. I’m an athlete,” the hockey legend said.
Wayne Gretzky records his podcast, “The Great One on 1,” at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.
John Russell | National Hockey League | Getty Images
Former NHL players struck a different tone. NHL legend Wayne Gretzky labeled Russia’s invasion a “senseless war.” Now a hockey analyst for Turner Sports, Gretzky also suggested the International Ice Hockey Federation ban Russia from the 2023 junior championships.
On Monday, hockey’s governing body granted the request and banned players from Russia and Belarus in every age category. Belarus has aided Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by providing a staging area for part of the attack.
In a statement, IIHF president Luc Tardif said the organization isn’t a “political entity and cannot influence the decisions being taken over the war in…
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