English rugby team prohibits player from sporting patch with Russian flag
Gloucester Rugby Club has taken down a Russian flag from a player’s jersey due to sanctions associated with the Ukraine conflict. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Gloucester Rugby has instructed player Kirill Gotovtsev to remove a Russian flag from his jersey due to backlash on social media. The club indicated that this action is in line with the sanctions imposed on Russia concerning the Ukraine conflict.
This decision followed Gotovtsev, a Russian national who joined Gloucester in 2021 and has made over 50 Premiership appearances, wearing a jersey with a Russian tricolor patch during a match against Sale Sharks last Saturday. Since 2015, Gloucester has permitted players to display their national flags on their jerseys to honor international representatives. However, the presence of the flag drew criticism from fans.
“Gloucester Rugby is acutely aware of the social media discussion regarding the national flag of Kirill Gotovtsev appearing on his home shirt during Saturday’s Premiership fixture vs Sale,” the club stated in a release on Wednesday. It acknowledged understanding the implications of the flag and offered apologies for "any offence this may have caused."
The club committed to adhering to World Rugby’s 2022 sanctions, which prohibit Russia from participating in international and cross-border competitions due to the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Gloucester mentioned they had "internal discussions" with Gotovtsev, who has agreed not to wear the Russian flag patch on his jersey in the future.
Social media commentary on Gotovtsev’s display of the Russian flag emerged after a fan shared a screenshot from Saturday's game, showing the tricolor on his jersey and captioning it, "you should be ashamed of yourself for supporting Ruzzian terrorists." Responses varied, with some backing the club’s decision while others labeled it "embarrassing" and criticized it as "racist" and "Nazi" for targeting Gotovtsev specifically.
In its statement, Gloucester expressed “deep disdain for all forms of racism” and declared that all national flags would be removed from players’ uniforms for the remainder of the season.
At 37, Gotovtsev is the only Russian player in the Gallagher Premiership. Prior to his rugby career, he had experience in wrestling and bobsleigh and represented Russia in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been barred from competing under their national flags in numerous international sports. Some have been allowed to compete either individually or under neutral flags. The Russian government has condemned these restrictions, claiming that international federations are "politicizing" sports.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
This decision followed Gotovtsev, a Russian national who joined Gloucester in 2021 and has made over 50 Premiership appearances, wearing a jersey with a Russian tricolor patch during a match against Sale Sharks last Saturday. Since 2015, Gloucester has permitted players to display their national flags on their jerseys to honor international representatives. However, the presence of the flag drew criticism from fans.
“Gloucester Rugby is acutely aware of the social media discussion regarding the national flag of Kirill Gotovtsev appearing on his home shirt during Saturday’s Premiership fixture vs Sale,” the club stated in a release on Wednesday. It acknowledged understanding the implications of the flag and offered apologies for "any offence this may have caused."
The club committed to adhering to World Rugby’s 2022 sanctions, which prohibit Russia from participating in international and cross-border competitions due to the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Gloucester mentioned they had "internal discussions" with Gotovtsev, who has agreed not to wear the Russian flag patch on his jersey in the future.
Social media commentary on Gotovtsev’s display of the Russian flag emerged after a fan shared a screenshot from Saturday's game, showing the tricolor on his jersey and captioning it, "you should be ashamed of yourself for supporting Ruzzian terrorists." Responses varied, with some backing the club’s decision while others labeled it "embarrassing" and criticized it as "racist" and "Nazi" for targeting Gotovtsev specifically.
In its statement, Gloucester expressed “deep disdain for all forms of racism” and declared that all national flags would be removed from players’ uniforms for the remainder of the season.
At 37, Gotovtsev is the only Russian player in the Gallagher Premiership. Prior to his rugby career, he had experience in wrestling and bobsleigh and represented Russia in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been barred from competing under their national flags in numerous international sports. Some have been allowed to compete either individually or under neutral flags. The Russian government has condemned these restrictions, claiming that international federations are "politicizing" sports.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
