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Gloucester respond to complaints over Russian flag

Eagle-eyed TNT Sports viewers clocked the Russian flag on the back of Kirill Gotovtsev's wrongly-spelt jersey.

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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Comments

70 Comments
P
Pabst 98 days ago

What about we do not mix Sport with politics?, Im mean 1 Ukranian is offended for a Russian flag, why?, Are all Russian people bad?. In that case what country has a clean sheet of atrocities and controversies? It sure ain’t Britain…

M
MAC 97 days ago

You hit the nail on the head but most of the people crying in the comments Voted Labour and watch the BBC and Sky News like it religious scripture.

O
Oh no, not him again? 98 days ago

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?

M
MAC 97 days ago

Why was NATO formed?

f
fl 98 days ago

"Allowing Ukraine to launch long range missiles into Russia is a much bigger win for the Ukraine"

dragging the war out in any way is a loss for the thousands of Ukranian men being sent to their deaths.

B
Bull Shark 98 days ago

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.

f
fl 98 days ago

its important for there to be public pressure on world rugby regarding its extremely inconsistent approach to sanctions (eg. why Russia but not US or Israel?)


this seems like a decent forum for that, just a shame the anti-russia mob don't seem willing to discuss facts!

J
JB 98 days ago

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!

R
R 99 days ago

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. 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱

f
fl 98 days ago

maybe we should remove the genocide flag first

O
Oh no, not him again? 98 days ago

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.

S
SM 99 days ago

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.

R
R 98 days ago

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.

G
GS 99 days ago

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

C
Ché. 99 days ago

Good god 🤦the man is from Russia. He didn't invade anywhere. People just looking for an excuse to ban flags.

O
Oh no, not him again? 98 days ago

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.

Y
YeowNotEven 99 days ago

Ban all flags from all rugby. Every country has a little something they did, no one innocent.

O
Oh no, not him again? 98 days ago

Own your history, but you do need to show that you are a better human in your own lifetime.

T
Timmyboy 99 days ago

Bless the little snowflakes!!

O
Oh no, not him again? 98 days ago

Timmy!

f
fl 99 days ago

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.

J
JB 98 days ago

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.

R
R 99 days ago

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!

G
GS 99 days ago

This is not woke nonsense. Russia is a pariah state and under no circumstances should Gloucester have put the Russian flag on his shirt.

R
RedWarrior 99 days ago

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.

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J
John 27 minutes ago
Super Rugby draw heavily favours NZ sides but they can't win in Australia

Cheers for the comment HHT!


I think your point on unfair draw and mine, which in essence is about an unfair draw actually aid each other for a rather strong argument that the draw needs to be looked at.


I think this is a case of two things can be true at once.


I have chosen in around 1000 words to explore this particular issue with the draw I have identified.


Your point, with having the NZ teams playing each other twice on some occassions while others in Aus not is also not fair.


But with the way the table looks currently, would the NZ sides all be in the top six if the draw had been done more in line with my and your point?


For instance, 4 of the 6 Aus wins against NZ sides have come against the Highlanders, 3 in Aus, 1 in NZ.


The Landers have beaten the Blues and lost to the Canes by 2 points, those are their only two NZ games to date and they play the Chiefs this weekend. Their 3 games against the Aussie sides in Australia compared to the Blues 1 is a massive disadvantage because travel takes it’s toll.


Then looking at your example the Blues, they have the toughest season of any side by far but I would also argue that the limited travel is a massive help in preparation, recovery etc. But their draw must be looked at, any side would suffer with a draw like that.


Although I am not suggesting the Aus sides are better than the NZ sides overall, the current ledger and table set up suggests the rift is not as big currently as the underlying assertion to your argument suggests.


More will absolutley be revealed over the coming rounds as the strength of the two franchises.

7 Go to comments
J
JW 40 minutes ago
'We offered him a three-year deal': Hurricanes priced out of U20 star

I see I’m not getting my point across.

If the plan from his family for him was to make more cash

Lets play along with you presumption these “shackles” existed then. Logically, as I’ve already tried to show, that makes no sense, but I’ll try to use it to show what I mean by saying/answering.. they would have got more cash by playing hard-to-get with the French clubs by returning to New Zealand and signing with the Hurricanes. Now you should see returning to NZ is not relevant to the discussion, it is also a euphemism, as he would already be (have returned) when he first decided to stay. His family would know that signing a development contract for the Hurricanes in no way legally affects his ability to take an offer in France.


Now, that wasn’t what I was saying happened, but if you can now follow that thread of logic, I’m saying its because this situation happened, signing for Toulon just months later, that you are wrong to think “returning to New Zealand” must mean he wasn’t “shackled”.


Actually, I’m not saying that he was “shackled”, the article is saying that. That is how you would read the words “His parents see that as the route they want their son to take, and we support that.” and “but it’s probably a slightly different package to what Toulon can offer” here, and I’m pretty sure in most English speaking places GD.


Of course without those statements I agree that it is very possible he’s grown, changed his mind from wanting to develop here with players and coaches he’s comfortable/friends with, to where he wants to take on the challenge of a rich and prestigious club like Toulon. A few months is perhaps enough time to people he trusts to open him up to that sort of environment even, but that’s simply not the message we go, is it? I also think you maybe have an over defense stance about thinking intrinsically or literally about money meaning he was thrown lots of dollars? It might be far from the case, but the monetary value of been given a home and jobs for the family, all the bells and whistles a wealthy club can provide etc is far removed from the mentality he’d currently be in of “cleaning the sheds” after a game. Even without real money just the life style they got given when there last would no doubt be enough to change the mind of some grown up living day to day off your own sustenance/plantation or like that they would have had.

11 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
Ex-All Black Richie Mo’unga teases return to ‘Test match setting’ in 2025

They didn’t really let him go though did they. He was gone, already signed to leave some 18 months earlier. Not much they could do.


Definitely a shame though, hence why I criticize the coaching for not unlocking that composure earlier. We would have seen he was definitely the player we need to take us through that WC, and the next, before the contract talks started. After, was too late. Conversely, if he had of continued to play the way he had been when he signed to go to Japan, I have no doubt Damien McKenzie would have been the player to lead us in 23’, and then we very likely would have won that Final. I’m not so sure Dmac would hve been good enough to get us past Ireland, Richie definitely deserves a lot of credit for simply getting us to the Final.


But that was all my message to HHT was. That class, or talent in this case, is permeant, and games like Ireland showed he did definitely had that. Obviously Richie’s got a large responsibility in realizing it sooner too, but in terms of not displaying it when it counts in 2019 or 2023, I reckon that’s on the coachs more than a lack of talent on his part, and it’s the same shame when it comes to your sentiment. If he was at the point were he could have saved out bacon against Ireland in 2022, it might not have been too late for NZR to have come in with a big contract offer. The bigger problem now is that Razor is only exasperating that problem with this new group. We now clearly know he was a big factor in Richie taking so long, because he’s replicating the same problems with the current batch. Thankfully NZR had no other option but to offer a big contract to secure Dmac this time though, regardless of how he must have felt after being treated like that.

8 Go to comments
L
Louise Hayward 2 hours ago
Zainab Alema breaking new ground: ‘I had to invest in sport hijabs to play comfortably’

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