Few days ago there was Euro League game in Lithuania between Zalgiris Kaunas and Red Star Belgrade. Hosts wanted to send message about stopping war in Ukraine, but away players didn't hold banner. That fired up 'holy war' on Twitter which ended with basketball player Nedović Twitter account DELETED on this platform. Comments like Serbians don't know what is decency, they are little genocidal Russians, ban them from sports competition on one and where were you in 1999 during NATO bombing of Yugoslavia to hold that banner against war, where were you when Americans start wars in Iraq, Libya, Vietnam, South Korea etc... on other side flooded tweet showing this picture...
Things also escalated inside Red Star squad where wife of one American Red Star player said it was shame, she has nothing to apologize for to Serbians and her husband said he fully supports and stand with Ukraine but must honor club decision. Fans didn't like that and start sending him back to America...
First I want to say Serbian people know what is decency, dominant are normal people like in every other society. They have even more hospitality than people in majority of other countries. I believe in Lithuania and in every other country decent people have majority. Problem is not lack of decency but different type of information people are getting in those countries. Here in Serbia you can see people justifying invasion, blabbering thesis of Russian propaganda every day on TV. Only few channels not covered nationwide are reporting things you can see on western mass media. State security is not reformed in 90ies after fall of Berlin wall and disguised communists who are majority there are controlling the scene abusing traditional love of Serbian people toward Russians which dates from first Serbian rebellion in 1804 against Turks and over first world war 1914-1918. They hard try to brain wash people talking about Nazis, pro nazi Azov battalion, showing some pictures like soldiers from Ukraine held own people as hostages, killing and bombing people of Donbas and Lugansk etc...
Contrary to that people in other countries of Europe are seeing destroyed cities, dead people killed by Russians, hear about raping woman, killing civilians, doing war crimes by Russia, barbaric conquest to enslave Europe which will not stop once they conquer Ukraine etc...
Other thing I want to point out is that sport players must follow what state security ask them to or they might have problems at home. Not to hold banner was order from the top and attempt 'Not to provoke Russia' which is holding our side with China in Kosovo problem and sending us oil and natural gas. They claim they are against every war and want all of them to stop, but banner in colors of Ukraine flag is problem because it shows support to that country and standing on one side while state try to be neutral. Serbian players don't have problem with state security if they hold white banner with message stop war.
Other question is is this political or basic humanity message ? Sport should not mix with politics it's what FIFA, UEFA and other organisations are saying. One Serbian swimmer Čavić lost golden medal because he had shirt with political message "Kosovo is Serbia". Who can stop war ? Politicians. They need to make decision to stop war and to order army to stop it. It's political decision. It's also humanity message because war in which you destroy cities by World War II type of bombing, enslaving people, doing killings of civilians is deeply against humanity. So both sides have right it's political but also civilization message and as such I think should be sent on sport events. Colors of Ukrainian flag is because war is on Ukraine soil and I really don't see this like some big problem.
In one word they should hold that banner, but they are scared of consequences in homeland from brain washed people, supporters, Russian agents and state security.
Other problem is Twitter and freedom of speech. Basketball players Nedovic lost his twitter account because problem on game was also showing NATO flag which insults Serbian media under state control because of 'bombing in 1999'. Eastern agents here love this topics to confront Serbia to West and to keep it under boots of KGB Russia or Communist China...
Nedovic mentioned that NATO flag and get reply by Lithuanians "We are members of NATO we can bring this flag to games if we like', he then replied 'I didn't see that flag when I was there playing for Panathinaikos against you. You think you are smart and comment but without offence it's stupid comment.' He lost Twitter account for that. I don't get insulted with NATO flag, but get insulted by deleting accounts from Twitter without explanation. He vanished from Twitter just like Putin's opponent on demonstration against him! I am also concerned about freedom of speech on some social networks. They at least should give explanation why they did it...
Comments