Frankfurt/Main (dpa) – Hansi Flick supports the exclusion of the Russian national soccer team from the World Cup playoffs. “I think such measures are right as a symbol,” said the national coach to the magazine “Stern”.
World governing body FIFA had banned Russia from participating in the elimination game against Poland scheduled for Thursday because of the military attack on Ukraine. However, Flick does not expect this decision to have an effect on the war or even give in to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“But I don’t think Putin is going to be impressed by this. So far, even severe economic sanctions haven’t been able to stop him. I feel sorry for the athletes who are now being banned from the competitions. Because it’s Putin’s war, not their war . But there is no other option at the moment,” said the 57-year-old. Due to the exclusion, Russia’s national team will miss the World Cup finals in Qatar in late autumn.
Tests against Israel and the Netherlands
Flick starts on Tuesday with the first training session in Frankfurt in preparation for the two friendly international matches of the DFB team on Saturday in Sinsheim against Israel and three days later in Amsterdam against the Netherlands.
Flick again viewed the World Cup award to the Emirate on the Persian Gulf critically. “It can’t always be about the money. We recently had a World Cup in Russia, the Winter Olympics in Beijing, and the World Cup is coming up in Qatar in November – and there has always been a lot of criticism. That’s why I say: We have to think about it earlier decide in which country we hold sporting events and define even more binding criteria for this,” demanded the national coach.
However, Flick again rejected a boycott of the tournament. “It wouldn’t help the people of Qatar. We want to take part and then send signals. I think that’s more effective,” he said. In the previous year, there had been protests by the national players against the political situation in Qatar at the three international matches played by the DFB team in March. Symbols against the war in Ukraine are planned on the players’ training jackets and in the kick-off circle in Sinsheim on Saturday.