IN the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the freezing of assets from Russian oligarchs, Chelsea Football Club has been a target because of its owner, Roman Abramovich.
Abramovich is said to be a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his steel company reportedly provides the material in the production of military tanks.
Of the 20 clubs that comprise the Premier League, only four clubs are owned by British citizens. The rest are owned by Americans, Saudis, Chinese, Serbians, Swiss and Italians with a sprinkling of British co- or minority owners. And that is just top tier football.
Now the league is thinking of a human-rights component to its owners’ and directors’ tests before they purchase clubs.
Of course, the league is downplaying it saying it has always been normal practice. Sure, and there’s a Michael Jackson sighting at Craven Cottage.
That’s all good. However, why only now? Why were people quiet when Russia was engaged in wholesale death and destruction in Syria or Chechnya?
You want to talk a brutal invasion? How about the Israeli occupation of Palestine? Not many people are talking about that. Save for some Irish politicians who sounded off about the hypocrisy a few days ago.
For most of my life, I have not been for the integration of politics into sports. Yes, I understand that what happens in politics affects all our lives including sports.
As it is said, this is what happens when you play politics. Compromise follows, you look one way, you scratch his back so he scratches yours. In the middle of all of it whether through self-preservation or someone suddenly grows a conscience… boom.
The war in Ukraine is a tragedy of epic proportions. I follow all the reports coming out several times a day from both credible sources and my Ukrainian friend who lives in Kyiv. As it is, no recent conflict has potential repercussions that could trigger World War III. Thus, it is frightening.
With the whole world watching, all it takes is one mistake of firing on someone who is outside the battlefield and then all hell can break loose.
It is said that in war, the first casualty is truth. It is, but ultimately, it is people. People who only want peace but are caught in the crossfire. People who lose their jobs because the oligarchs’ assets are frozen. People who entrust their sons to the military but instead of fighting the good fight, are left in body bags or by the roadside; victims of a madman’s vanity.
I feel bad for the people of Ukraine. I feel bad for Russian soldiers who were duped by Vladimir Putin and his generals. I feel bad for the people who lost their jobs with Putin’s cronies’ assets frozen. I feel bad for Chelsea Football Club and their supporters.
What could have been a glorious season could be the most catastrophic of years in their 117thanniversary of their founding.
The sad thing about what is going on in English football, nay, world football, is sports organizations tend to turn a blind eye to certain ills until that position is no longer tenable.
In truth, the politics and problems in football and sports in general, mirror what goes on society. And that is bleeping tragic.
Like the war in Ukraine that doesn’t seem to be headed for a good ending, one can only hope for the best.