What the eyes don’t see… This slogan was probably followed by one of the Hungarian clubs, which had planned a sparring match with the Russian Krylia Sovetov at the camp in Turkey. The case of this match sounds a bit like the X-Files. Was? There was no? Or maybe someone didn’t want someone else to know that it happened after all? Although Russian clubs had about 20 friendlies with teams from Europe scheduled, it is unlikely that many will happen.
20 friendlies between Russia and Europe
In Sport.pl, we reported at the beginning of January that although the Russian football federation is suspended from international competitions and does not play competitive matches on the continent, all Priemjer clubs went on winter training camps to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. leagues.
During such camps, sparring usually takes place. For example, last year Russian clubs played over 60 friendly matches against teams from Europe, including: Norway, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland and Spain. In the current season, after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the Russians have to play against each other or with more exotic rivals. In the winter, however, they managed to arrange about 20 European friendlies. Most of them – which is not surprising – with clubs from Serbia and Armenia.
Serbia is one of the few countries that has not imposed any sanctions on Russia. In addition, in September he concluded an agreement on “foreign policy consultations”. In the face of the fact that Serbia is applying for membership in the European Union, this has been strongly criticized by many leaders on the Old Continent. Expressions of understanding or even brotherhood between nations were also visible at the World Cup. Serbian fans in Qatar greeted Vladimir Putin and shouted “!”
Armenia also has good relations with Russia, not only at the sports level. It is therefore not surprising that FC Urartu Yerevan, a team trained by Ilshat Fajzulin, a former national team member from Russia, plays against the Russians. It was more surprising that clubs from Bulgaria, Macedonia and Hungary arranged friendly meetings. As it turned out, this caused some problems for some.
They wanted to face the Russians with Ukrainian flags. “Spartak will demand punishment”
Scheduled matches with three Russian clubs were suddenly canceled by Levski Sofia. The Bulgarians were to meet Krasnodar, and the Ural Yekaterinburg. The club resigned due to pressure from its own supporters. Fan associations have long called for a boycott of Russian sport with banners in stadiums and raising money for concrete aid. No wonder that the information about winter sparring with the Russians angered them. The fans even organized a small picket in front of the stadium, unfurled several banners, and posted a photo of the banner online: “Freedom does not compromise!”
The Bulgarian club tried to rectify the situation. He came up with the idea that he would play a match and show his support for Ukraine. The Sportal.bg portal even reported that Lewski’s players were supposed to enter the pitch with the Ukrainian flag or in yellow and blue outfits. Bulgarian fans, however, were categorical. They asked me not to play.
It worked. The club issued an official statement in which it assured that it was resigning from matches. “The most important thing for us is the unity between the club and the fans,” we read. The Russians were not pleased. “Spartak will demand that Levski pay a contractual penalty for refusing to play,” the club’s press service reported to the media.
Let us add that Bulgaria provided military support to Ukraine, although officially it was one of the last countries to do so. It has probably done so unofficially before, through other countries. One way or another: it gave the Ukrainian army a lot of equipment.
Will other clubs follow Levski? Russian media suggest that there will probably be some changes in the sparring calendar. Perhaps Slavia Sofia will not play with Fakiel Voronezh, and Arda Kardzhali will not play with Dynamo Moscow. Botev Plovdiv, which is to play with Ural and Spartak, will rather not want to avoid the competition. The club has Russian owners.
Borac Bania Luka from Bo¶nia and Herzegovina is also scheduled for matches against the Russians (Dynamo). Recall that in the autumn even the Bosnian national team announced its arrival in St. Petersburg, but after a media storm, the meeting was finally canceled. From European countries, the list of rivals of Russian clubs also includes one of the teams from Macedonia and possibly Hungary. Perhaps, because this is where the matter became mysterious.
Sparring with Hungary, which was kept secret?
Sparring with Krylia Sovetow Samara on January 19 was planned for the second-league Szeged-Csanad Grosics Akademia. However, the Hungarian association informally but firmly asked the clubs not to play against the Russians. It seems that just before the sparring, Szeged didn’t really know what to do. Finally, on the club’s website, on the occasion of the article about “change of plans at the training camp”, information was added that the sparring with Krylja was cancelled. The Hungarians informed that the team will conduct two training sessions on the last day of the training camp. The matter was not brought up again. However, it looks more interesting from the Russian side. Krylia’s representatives informed on the day of the match that the meeting, at the request of the rival, would be held behind closed doors. The opponent’s name was not given. After the mysterious match, the message of the team from Samara sounded bizarre.
“Today our team played a closed friendly match, which ended with a 2-0 win. The goals were scored…”. The shooters are given, the opponent is not. Russian media suspect that the match was played as planned, only quietly.
It is also in vain to look for information regarding the announced match of the Hungarian Duna Aszfalt TVSE with FK Nizhny Nowogród. The Russians already have a set of rivals, but the second division club from Hungary is not on the official list.
During their winter camps, the Russians also play matches with teams from Iran, Malaysia, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates. The Russian league will resume at the end of February.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
