The decision of the European Table Tennis Union to exclude Russians and Belarusians from its competitions, following the world federation and after the general instruction of the International Olympic Committee, due to the military invasion in Ukraine, brought immediate upheavals in the competition part.
Borussia Düsseldorf is the winner of the Men’s Champions League 2021-2022 because the Russian teams Orenburg and UMMC, which were competing in the other semifinal, were eliminated.
In the program of the days were the rematch of the 4th team. Borussia played normally with the also German Saarbrucken and scored a second victory, this time away from home with 3-1. The other replay semifinal, originally postponed for security reasons, was between Orenburg and UMMC, with the former having a 3-1 advantage.
However, the decision of the ETTU to ban the participation of Russian clubs in European club competitions from the current season has come, the rematch of the semifinals is not taking place and Borussia automatically wins the trophy.
It should be noted that the German club kept the scepter, which it had taken last year in special conditions. Then it was the effects of the coronavirus of course and not the horror of a war and the Champions League was held in a gym and in bubble conditions.
The European Union of Sports has issued a new announcement, which also explains the issue with the inter-club Cups of the continent. There he even announced that after Russian President Igor Levitin, until recently, the Belarusian Vladimir Samsonov and the Russian representative of the athletes Polina Mikailova resigned from their duties in the ETTU administration.
The announcement:
“The ETTU Executive Board met to discuss further action needed to protect the integrity of our games and the well-being of our athletes. After careful discussion, the ETTU Executive Board has decided that Russian clubs will not be allowed to compete in any European club competitions for the 2021-2022 season. This includes Russian clubs, which are going to play in the semifinals and the final of the Men’s Champions League.
This decision is in line with the previous ETTU decision that no Russian or Belarusian athlete or official will be invited or allowed to take part in events hosted by the ETTU until further notice, following the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). and the ITTF. In addition, no national symbols, flags or national anthems of Belarus or Russia will be displayed at ETTU events until further notice.
The ETTU Executive Board also informs that both Vladimir Samsonov and Polina Mikailova made themselves available from their positions on the Executive Board, immediately after the self-suspension of Igor Levitin from the presidency, until recently.
The ETTU Executive Board accepts their decision and will continue to operate normally, in full compliance with the ETTU Statutes, in order to better serve European table tennis. As the ITTF has repeatedly stated, Table Tennis Diplomacy has been at the heart of our sport for more than half a century and with them we hope that constructive dialogue can be the solution to any disputes.
“As a family of table tennis, we are united in the hope that peace will return to Europe soon.”
The tragic situation in Ukraine touches everyone, of course, in the field of sports. Showing level and sensitivity, the executives of Borussia Düsseldorf showed that they are not happy with their second consecutive title as much as they would like. “I am happy for our performance in the second semifinal, but the joy is more restrained. You see the news from Ukraine … Of course there are more important things right now. Many troubles, which are not so far from us. It is definitely a very strange victory “, stressed the superstar of the Düsseldorf team, Timo Ball, while the Dutch coach and former international Danny Heister said:” It is very sad what is happening in the world in the last days. It’s also a weird feeling for us. “Of course we can be very satisfied with our excellent work in the second semifinal, but the war situation in Ukraine mitigates the joy.”
* In the federal hall of the Peace and Friendship Stadium, two postponed matches took place on Friday afternoon for the promotion barrages from the Second National to the A2 women. The results did not clarify things with reference to the teams, which will fill the two privileged positions. Telamon Salamina initially defeated Heraklion 2001 3-1, finished its effort at 5 points and with a game above is ahead. Later, Heraklion defeated Orion Chios 3-2. He kept hopes for the duo, while the team of Chios is definitely limited to the 4th place with 3 points. The also postponed match of ASEA Kavala with Heraklion remains pending. If the team of Macedonia, which already has 4 points, finishes the draw unbeaten, then it goes up a category with the first place and Telamon will follow in A2. If he loses, there will be a triple tie and the results will be measured between the three teams.
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