Dortmund (dpa) – National coach Hansi Flick has rated the exclusion of Russian athletes and teams from international sporting events such as the World Cup in Qatar because of the war in Ukraine as correct and without alternative.
“The sports world has sent a signal that the Russian athletes have been excluded,” said Flick in the ARD “Sportschau”: “They can’t do anything about it, but you have to send a signal, even if you feel sorry for the athletes, because they can’t help it. Ultimately, it’s Putin’s war. But there’s no other alternative for me.”
Like everyone else, he is following “very closely what is happening in Ukraine, of course with concerns that we all have,” said the 57-year-old on Russia’s invasion. The former Bayern coach was concerned about the current situation. At the same time, he is impressed by the willingness of the people to help, for example in his home town of Bammental: “None of us know what’s coming. But you can also feel the solidarity with the Ukraine.” However, the war in Europe is “very, very scary”.