Those Who Remove Independence from International Sports Destroy the Olympic Spirit

The experienced figure of Soviet and Russian football, Haji Haciyev, criticized the Western media for criticizing the postponement of the punishment of an American football player after Trump's phone call, stating that the sanctions imposed on Russian athletes for years have become a political tool. Haciyev also stated that without Russia, neither world nor European championships can be considered “complete”. Evaluating the independence crisis in international sports, Haciyev reacted to the Western media's description of this decision as a “scandal”, while the discrimination against Russian athletes by European Union countries has been presented as a “new norm” for years.

I do not think that these have become a new norm, these are crazy steps completely related to political tools. They are already weakening slowly. I see the IOC's decision to reconsider the disqualification of Russian athletes and this being a call to international football federations as an inevitable development.

Haciyev made a historical reminder:

We experienced similar discrimination after the October Revolution; we did not participate in international competitions until 1952. In 1952, we returned to the Olympics, and we not only returned, but we also dominated; we defeated all our rivals.

Describing the restrictions imposed by European countries as “political tools”, Haciyev stated that sports have become one of the basic instruments of politics due to their impact on the masses:

Now, the World Cup is being played, and millions are watching these matches; millions are coming to the stadiums, and millions are watching on television. Including what I said about Trump, all these are part of the same line.

Haciyev believes that the spirit of the Olympic movement is also being eroded:

Those who destroy the Olympic movement are those who do not comply with the charter established by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Olympic Games.