Ukraine invasion: Russian athletes must be punished for Putin’s actions, sanctions can land significant blow, say experts
- British lawmaker says consequences of inaction ‘far more serious’ than impact on sport
- Former senior IOC official says country must be punish and ‘that has to include her athletes as well’
However, the Russian president’s decision to invade Ukraine has resulted in destroying the warm global afterglow and experts believe it could cost him dearly internally.
Saint Petersburg has already been stripped of hosting this year’s Champions League final with Gazprom’s reported €40 million ($45 million) a year sponsorship deal with Uefa also in doubt.
The Russian Formula One Grand Prix has been cancelled and there are calls for the country’s football team to be expelled from the 2022 World Cup play-offs.
“Sport has always had a tremendous impact on society,” Michael Payne, former head of marketing at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), told Agence France-Presse.
“The South African sports boycott over apartheid probably had as much or greater impact than economic sanctions, over forcing regime policy change.”
For Hugh Robertson, chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), a blanket sports ban could affect Putin’s standing domestically.