As tension have been erupted between Russia and Ukraine. And supposedly a war has started between those two this has major impact on the people from both countries and also athletes have been impacted by this event happening right now as we are speaking.
Many players have had an hard time escaping the highly dangerous cities of
Ukraine. Others have been outspoken about the events, and others even have. Others have even canceled their contracts with teams such as the world famous CSKA Moscow.
In reaction to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Tornike Shengelia is the first CSKA player to break ties with his employer. In a historically tense context between Georgia and Russia, the captain of the Georgian
selection no longer wants to defend the colours of the Russian army club. The first Moscow player to publicly support Ukraine on Saturday morning, Tornike Shengelie went further. The Georgian star has decided to leave CSKA. “I made this decision in protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he
reportedly told Commersant. Toko Shengelia was under contract until 2023 with Moscow.
Former leader of Baskonia, he is preparing to leave the Russian capital for Spain with his family.
“I consider it no longer
possible to continue
playing for the Russian
army club.
Other players like Donatas Motiejunas 
didn’t want to comment anything about basketball, just call for peace in Ukraine. After winning a Euroleague game against Fenerbahçe Beko his exact words were First of all we should take a moment of silence for all the things that are going on right now in Europe,” Motiejunas said. “A lot of innocent people are dying… please stop the war in Ukraine. Our thoughts and prayers are with that country right now.” He added a simple “Thank you” and left for the locker room.
“A lot of innocent people are
dying. Please stop the war in
Ukraine. Our thoughts and
prayers are with that country
right now”
Ettore Messina: Losing a game is nothing compared to what’s happening in Ukraine
“Ukrainian referee
Boris Rhyzyk sent an
anti-war message in
light of the invasion
by Russia into his
country.”
Just before the tipoff of the EuroLeague match between Olympiacos Piraeus and Olimpia Milano, the camera captured Ukrainian referee Boris Ryzhyk holding a “Stop War” sign during the pregame ceremony. It was a message for what is taking place right now back at his home country which is facing a full-scale invasion by Russia since the early morning hours of Thursday, February 24
“I would like to express our sympathy to Boris
Ryzhyk,” Messina said. “I cannot even imagine what
he’s going through, this referee, who traveled here
today in such a horrible day for Europe with the war
beginning in Ukraine.”
Earlier on Thursday, Zalgiris Kaunas announced that the team won’t be playing its upcoming games in Russia against CSKA Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg. Zalgiris general manager Paulius Motiejunas stated that they will be calling “Western” EuroLeague clubs to make a general boycott of their games against Russian teams.
Barcelona postponed the travel to St. Petersburg to face Zenit Friday February 25th, while Bayern Munich asked for its game against CSKA to be suspended. Ultimately, EuroLeague shut down all three games of Russian teams this week. A crucial remote meeting is planned to be held Friday when the 18 EuroLeague clubs will discuss how to proceed in light of these circumstances.
“It’s really difficult to make a comment when you see the games being canceled because of the situation because we don’t know what it’s going to happen in the future,” Messina said. “Losing a basketball game is nothing compared to what’s happening [in Ukraine]
As we can see not on only the
population suffers. We are seeing a complete movement happening in the
basketball world as games in Russia are being postponed or even cancelled by opposing team in the Euroleague.
4 times nba champion and General Manager of the French Top club ASVEL, Tony Parker has al decided to not send his team out to Russia to compete in the 27th round of the Euroleague
“We will not go to Russia next
week..”
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne will not play in Russia next week, team owner and formerprofessional player T ony Parker announcedThursday evening.
“We will not go to Russia next week,” he said after the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 27 contest versus ALBA Berlin at Astroballe, “I have already announced this to my players and my staff.
This goes beyond sport. We cannot accept the situation which is totally the opposite of our values. Sending our team to Russia is out of the question.”
ASVEL follows in the footsteps of Zalgiris Kaunas. The dominating champions of Lithuania previously declared their intentions to boycott future games in Russia. Meanwhile, as a result of the ongoing war, all three Round 27 games involving Russian teams were suspended. FC Barcelona had decided to postpone it’s own trip to Russia for a Round 27 meeting with Zenit Friday and a pushed back Round 19 game opposite CSKA. Moscow before Euroleague Basketball formally postponed the matchup in Saint Petersburg.
