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Gloucester respond to complaints over Russian flag
By Jon Newcombe
Gloucester Rugby have removed international flags from capped players’ shirts moving forward following complaints from some fans and the Ukranian community.
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The Gallagher Premiership club received criticism for printing the Russian flag on the back of Kirill Gotovtsev’s shirt in contravention of the country’s widespread ostracism from international sport.
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has been banned from multiple global sporting competitions and hasn’t played Test rugby for nearly three years.
The 37-year-old Russian international, who has made 15 appearances for his country, was spotted wearing the offending shirt during the Cherry & Whites’ 36-20 win over Sale Sharks last weekend.
An X user posted: “As a @?gloucesterrugby supporter & grandson of Ukrainians I find it wrong that Gotovtsev is allowed to wear a Russian flag on his shirt, especially in a city that has a prominent Ukrainian community very poor.”
RugbyPass has seen a response from the club to one of the complainants, which confirmed the policy of putting the flags of capped players on their jerseys has been in place since 2021 when Gotovtsev signed for the club.
The email went on to say. “We recognise the understandable sensitivity in this particular case and, as a result, we have removed international flags from capped Gloucester player’s shirts moving forward. It is never our intention to cause any upset to our community and we apologise if that has been the case in this situation.”
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In addition to Gotovtsev, Gloucester’s starting XV against the Sharks included eight other internationals, with the flags of Wales (Freddie Thomas, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn and Josh Hathaway), Argentina (Mayco Vivas and Santi Carreras) and Chris Harris (Scotland) also on show.
Quite what those players and the club’s other internationals make about the decision to remove national flags from their shirts remains to be seen.
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All the football fans went to the Russian World Cup while putin was known to have used chemical weapons to murder an innocent british citizen on British soil and he had invaded the Crimea during the Korea/Japan Olympics earlier. That was alot worse than Gloucester putting a Russian flag on their shirt. The point is that the West doesn't think this sort of thing through. Now, Glaws has taken the flag off. Its is very small thing in the scheme of things. Allowing Ukraine to launch long range missiles into Russia is a much bigger win for the Ukraine. Let's put this little thing to bed and concentrate on the big picture. If you look at Stalin's invasion of Finland then you'll get an fairly accurate idea of how this is going to resolve itself, but the West should induct Ukraine into NATO. Ignore putin's bluffs, because long term that's how to protect Ukrainian sovereignty. End of. Anyone with a credit card can actually donate to the Ukrainian military by the way. Got a spare fiver?
If world rugby has sanctioned (like the Olympic Committee has) the involvement of Russia and Russian players participation in rugby under the Russian flag - then yes. Remove the flag.
I’m not sure if the above is the case and don’t care because the flag merely represents the historical fact that the player was capped for Russia. This is my opinion.
But as for the history lessons and insights into the complex geopolitics of the Russia/Ukraine issue - please take them elsewhere. I doubt anyone here who really deeply understands the geopolitics and history of the Russia/Ukraine issue would be wasting their time sharing this seemingly important information (I call it opinion) in the comments section of a rugby website with maybe 30 ardent rugby news followers.
Take it to Hague or the UN where it belongs.
Did we? Sorry but until I see confirmation from the club themselves about this, and not something that is claimed on here, then I doubt the flags are being removed at all.
Kirill joined us before the war in Ukraine started so would have had the Russian flag there from the beginning so it's very strange how this is suddenly an issue now when we're having a decent season yet was fine the past two seasons. It's like the incident involving the Ackermanns all over again in my opinion. It's quite clear from both of these that certain people don't like us!
Don't see why everybody's flag has to go? Just the Russian one in this case.
Russia is the problem nation and an enemy of the West, Putin has threatened to nuke us several times. 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱
I think it's about ensuring the squad stay united. Let's just put it to bed. If you want to help the Ukrainian cause send any spare money you have to the Ukrainian military using your credit card.
lol the guys complaining about this. they are the same dudes that would have a school girl meltdown if Gloucester put a pride flag up. hands down.
i feel for Kirill. He didnt do anything. with putin getting almost a thousand soldiers people killed a day, Kirill most likely has family or friends that have died. just an unfortunate situation all around.
Then why would he want to have the Russian flag on his shirt? It's like someone having the swastika on his shirt, just simply unacceptable.
Ignore the player. He almost certainly doesn't give a damn. However, the West is in grave danger at the moment and there is nothing woke about that
Good god 🤦the man is from Russia. He didn't invade anywhere. People just looking for an excuse to ban flags.
Humans are tribal, Flags are going nowhere, even the United nations and Europe have flags. Nz v Aus and the six nations. Tribal as flip. Can't fight DNA.
Ban all flags from all rugby. Every country has a little something they did, no one innocent.
Own your history, but you do need to show that you are a better human in your own lifetime.
Bless the little snowflakes!!
Timmy!
This is woke nonsense.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine was wrong, but so what the US/UK invasion of Iraq. We still allow US internationals to wear their flag.
Not woke but more someone doesn't like it that we're having a decent season and trying to smear us. Interesting it wasn't a problem the previous two bad seasons but suddenly is now! I highly doubt the flags are going but will await the clubs response however it's very telling that they've been silent throughout this despite what is claimed on here.
A similar thing happened with the Ackermanns a few years ago (conveniently during a decent season after a couple of rubbish ones) where a story was made up about an incident in a nightclub and they had a trial by social media as well. Thankfully nothing came to that in the end and I highly expect this to be the same.
Not nonsense at all, shame on you for dismissing what that flag means to the people of Ukraine. Russia are our enemy as well, not responding would be a WOKE and very lefty thing to do!
This is not woke nonsense. Russia is a pariah state and under no circumstances should Gloucester have put the Russian flag on his shirt.
Only idiots use the word 'Woke' to try and win arguments.
Your utter ignorance about who Vladimir Putin is astounding. I didn't agree with the (UN endorsed) invasion or Iraq. But to equate the US to Russia under Putin is idiotic.
Putin has caused 10-15 million refugees between Ukraine, Syria and Libya never mind the slaughter in Chechnya and Georgia. He then weaponizes the refugee crises he creates which is lapped up by gullible idiots (like you).
Putin represents a threat to Europe not seen since WW2.