Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Russian Rugby Federation (RFR), Igor Artemyev, explained to journalists why the organization does not file further appeals against the withdrawal of Russian teams from international competitions and the suspension of the membership of the RFR to the World Rugby Federation.
In early March, it was announced that the RDF’s membership of World Rugby was temporarily suspended until further notice due to the situation in Ukraine. The World Rugby executive committee has suspended the national teams of Russia and Belarus from participating in all international competitions. At first, the RDF were going to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but later abandoned that idea as World Rugby objected to CAS looking into the dispute. An internal appeal filed with World Rugby was dismissed. According to Artemiev, the international federation deprived the FRR of the right to protection.
– The style of communication with World Rugby representatives is very equal and respectful. I can say that in some respects we even hear a tone of apology. And the decision is poignant. Looks like there’s a tractor moving, and they’re all voting. We appealed to World Rugby. They had to get two-thirds of the votes for our membership to be suspended. But they not only collected two-thirds, but voted unanimously. Including elected officials from Asia and South America, who sympathize with us.
Despite this, they speak to us very politely, nobody takes offense and they say: “If something positive happens, we are of course inclined to fire you.” That is to say, we did not argue.
They made this decision because of a common political program. What do cultural figures and athletes have to do with it? Why are you attached to us? When (tennis player Daniil) Medvedev is asked to make a written statement that he is against Putin. What is that? I feel like the world has gone mad. We have to understand that ethnic discrimination and fascism are very close stories.
– Can we go back through the courts?
– Not. There is such an interesting story. World Rugby does not recognize the jurisdiction of CAS. In fact, they deprive us of the right to protection. And CAS confirms this story. The only option is to go to the Irish courts where World Rugby is and try to sue them in the civil courts. What it is? I can tell you with certainty that the Irish courts will simply refuse to accept the claim. Then it turns out that a democratic organization deprived us of the right to judicial protection and talks about it openly and is not ashamed of it. It’s just some kind of nightmare, some kind of cave age.
“Have we tried to go to the Irish courts?”
We were going to serve because we are used to going all the way. But there is a government position that everyone should act in concert, that they should all do it together. It’s a reasonable story: either everyone or no one. Therefore, we are waiting,” Artemiev said.
Source : MatchTV
