If the athletes do not directly represent Russia and Belarus, they can compete in the Czech Republic

Illustration photo – Russian hockey player Artom Galimov and Czech goalkeeper Roman Will.

Prague – If athletes do not perform under the flag of Russia or Belarus, do not represent these countries and do not carry the signs of the Russian Federation associated with the occupation of Ukraine, they will not be prohibited from participating in competitions in the Czech Republic. After today's government meeting, Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS) told journalists. The Cabinet wants to specify the conditions, and will continue the discussion at the next meeting.

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On Tuesday, the government agreed to grant visas to the footballers of Kazakhstan's Tobolu Kostanaj, who will be able to compete with players from Russia and Belarus in the rematch of the play-off for promotion to the European Conference League in Pilsen on Thursday. Tobol has three Russian and one Belarusian footballer in its squad, none of whom originally flew to Prague with the team. Club co-owner Alimžan Kaldijarov said on Instagram that without them, Kostanaj might not have started the match at all.

Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the government in June approved a ban on the start of Russian and Belarusian athletes on Czech territory. Although Belarus did not actively participate in the war, it allowed Russia to launch attacks from its territory. According to the interpretation of the National Sports Agency, the regulation only applies to representatives of their countries.

“We are interested in the conditions in the Czech Republic corresponding to the conditions in other countries, which stand the same as the Czech Republic against the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” said Kupka . According to him, sanctions and restrictions imposed on Russian clubs or athletes must primarily affect Russia and should not have a dominant impact on Czech athletes and competitions.

According to the minister, the basic principle applies that Czech representatives and Czech clubs may not participate in competitions in Russia and Belarus. At the same time, representatives of Russia and Belarus and clubs based in the territory of these two countries may not participate in competitions in the Czech Republic.

In the case of athletes who do not perform under the flag of Russia or Belarus, they do not represent them and do not wear with the symbols of the Russian Federation associated with the occupation of Ukraine, they will not be prohibited from participating in competitions, Kupka noted.

The government will discuss the matter next time as well. He wants to reach comprehensible rules so that it is not necessary to grant exceptions in all cases.