Fifa has double standards – Hembapu

In the year 2018, Russian football basked in international sporting glory – hosting a successful World Cup in which the national team reached the quarter-finals for the first time in post-Soviet history.However, four years later, in February this year, Russia invaded Ukraine, and in retaliation, European football clubs and athletes from various sports codes cut ties with Russian sporting organisations, while events scheduled in the country have been moved elsewhere.Sports journalist Otniel Hembapu described these actions as harsh and uncalled for on Wednesday’s Sport Wrap show.He said the decision by the world football governing body to ban that country’s players is an infringement on the rights of Russian athletes, with some having nothing to do with president Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.“It’s unfair, there is no legal or moral ground to do that. It speaks to the double standards of Fifa and Uefa,” he said.Hembapu highlighted countries which have had similar problems in the past and faced no repercussions.“Look at Libya, as well as Afghanistan. In those situations, Fifa never announced themselves on those issues or took serious actions when it came to compacting those violations. This is an agenda bigger than sports and, unfortunately, Fifa and Uefa have chosen to pick sides.”Do your research“When you look at the Russian set-up when it comes to football, Fifa and Uefa haven’t done research or their homework to determine whether the athletes are supporting the actions of Putin. You need to do your homework, determine the facts on the ground, and then perhaps ban the athletes after, but I don’t think they have done enough of that,” he said.“It’s unfortunate, and a big infringement on all the Russian athletes’ rights. European countries always speak about the dignity and rights of others, and remember we have always said that football should be there to unify communities, uplift and to bring hope, but this time around, I think football has divided the world. It’s a big infringement on the athletes,” Hembapu stressed.As it stands, it looks as though the continuation of the war will most likely have more consequences for Russian sport, both in the short- and long-term.

Fifa has double standards – Hembapu

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-02

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Fifa has double standards – Hembapu

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-02

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