The USA and 34 other Western countries are calling for the exclusion of Russian sports officials from international federations – including Germany. In addition, TV broadcasts of competitions to Russia and Belarus should be suspended.

Germany and 34 other countries are demanding sanctions for Russian and Belarusian sports federations and officials. They want them to be suspended from international federations such as the IOC and no longer allowed to hold important posts. The US Department of the Interior published a statement to this effect on Tuesday. According to the statement, the German Parliamentary State Secretary Mahmut Özdemir (SPD) from the Ministry of the Interior, which is responsible for sports, is also one of the signatories.

TV broadcasts to be suspended

While recognising the autonomy of sports federations, the collective of “like-minded nations” takes the position that “Russian and Belarusian national sports federations should be suspended from international federations”. Persons with close ties to the Russian or Belarusian state should also be removed from important posts. This does not only apply to government representatives. In addition, national and international sports organisations should consider suspending TV broadcasts of their competitions to Russia and Belarus, it said.

Since the beginning of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, many international sports federations have banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in international competitions. The national federations, however, are for the most part still part of organised sport. For example, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lists two Russians among its voting members and two others among its honorary members. On the UEFA Executive Board, on the other hand, sits Alexander Dyukov, the president of the Russian Football Federation. He also holds a leading position at energy giant Gazprom.