Wimbledon bans Russian and Belarusian players, but ATP, WTA slam it as 'unfair' move

A blanket ban without consulting the players is not cricket. Like all sportspeople the players represent themselves with their skill and talent, NOT their nationality. The only decent thing to do would be to give players a chance to express their views in private so they could withdraw quietly from the competition should their views on the war be incompatible with the humanitarian ideals of international sport. Because fascism, like racism, has no place in sport.

Sounds good to me. Until the Russian people, including athletes, get rid of Putin and put in a leader that is more rational and end the war, they are all culpable.

Ban the unvaccinated Serb from the US Open

yes and rusophobia continues...

If they denounce - unequivocally - the murderous, tyrannical fascist Russian government, and condemn the sick attack and invasion of sovereign Ukraine - then let them play.

@hakman

Huh? What a weird story.

Don't ban anyone. Ban Putin!

Couldn't they just let a Ukrainian player win Wimbledon? I'm expecting either Scotland or Wales to forfeit their possible qualification for the upcoming World Cup and give their slot to Ukraine, who should then be allowed to win the tournament. Can we also let a Ukrainian player win Roland Garros and Flushing Meadow too, while we're at it.

Reports are coming all over Europe that some Ukrainians are demanding free travel on public transport, free housing, and free food from any business, like bakeries, etc.

yes and rusophobia continues...

and so it should, until Russia leaves Ukraine.

if you don’t agree with it, tell Putin !

ATP and WTA organizers branded the move "unfair" and "very disappointing"

Yes, not being able to play a sport for big money solely on account of your nationality is definitely unfair and disappointing. Poor, poor tennis players.

Not quite as unfair and disappointing as having bombs raining down on you, your town literally flattened, your home destroyed, civilians killed and their bodies booby-trapped, humanitarian corridors mined and fired upon, thousands left to starve, families wrenched apart, millions turned into exiles, all on account of your nationality.

There's unfair, and then there's mind-blowingly horrendous.

Poor, poor, tennis players.

Simple: Because they're white. Discrimination against white people usually seems to be okay.

Is that why US and UK players were banned after the Iraq invasion? Except they weren't.

This is discrimination based on nationality, not race or religion.

Well, if the authorities are going to do this, I hope they will be just as quick to welcome everyone back again once this stupid, meaningless, steamrolling once-sided land-grabbing war is finished.

Even so, I am not personally happy with this jump-on-the-bandwagon move at Wimbledon.

Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian players from the 2022 tournament in response to the invasion of Ukraine,

They have that right.

If they denounce - unequivocally - the murderous, tyrannical fascist Russian government, and condemn the sick attack and invasion of sovereign Ukraine - then let them play.

Russia is not a free society where people are free to disagree with government and to criticize it on the world stage and be unaffected. While it would make many feel better about letting them play if they denounce Russian actions that we all know to be wrong, We can not expect sports people to endanger themselves by speaking out against their governments wrong doing. They have family there and while they may not support the war and may abhor it, they cant speak up without potentially horrible consequences.

Better to not ask them to do that, better for them to just be banned.

Seems boycott hasn't crossed anyone's mind this time

WOW who's worse on the world stage NK or Russia. But leaders are short and selfish and egotistical and always boast they have a nuclear bomb. Its a shame no one will squash them like a roach!!

All the people who are claiming it was unfair to ban Russians also would have claimed it was unfair to ban South Africans in the era of apartheid.

There are consequences for living under rogue, despotic regimes.

Banning a Russian tennis player from Wimbledon for being Russian makes no more sense than killing a Ukrainian because they are Ukrainian if you carry the guilt by association game to its conclusion.

Wimbledon, a sad bunch of posh old clowns.

Banning a Russian tennis player from Wimbledon for being Russian makes no more sense than killing a Ukrainian because they are Ukrainian if you carry the guilt by association game to its conclusion.

Kipling / RT logic. Killing a person is the same as stopping a person from playing tennis.

Neither is desirable, neither are comparable.

Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian players from the 2022 tournament in response to the invasion of Ukraine, but ATP and WTA organizers branded the move "unfair" and "very disappointing" on Wednesday.

Way to go Wimbledon. It's your tournament, you can do what you want. Wish the IOC had the will to have banned Russian athletes from the last 5 Olympics.

Keep the pressure on Russia, so that the people will turn against their government.

Banning a Russian tennis player from Wimbledon for being Russian makes no more sense than killing a Ukrainian because they are Ukrainian

Because stopping someone playing tennis for money is just as bad as killing them and their family?

Squeeeeezzze!!! Turn off the money faucet.

@kipling

the west - banning Russian players from tournaments

russia- killing innocent Ukrainian women & children

you think these are the same !?

I prefer Wimbledon’s stance anyday over Russian apologists