Ukrainian Beach Soccer Team Boycotts Third-Place Match Against Belarus, Impacting Euroleague Medal Distribution
The Ukrainian beach soccer team made a decisive move by refusing to participate in the upcoming third-place match against Belarus in the Euroleague superfinal.
This decision has led to unforeseen consequences in the final medal standings of the tournament.
According to the Ukrainian Beach Football Association, the team’s refusal was motivated by political reasons and a desire to protest Belarus’s participation in the competition.
In the semifinals, Ukraine suffered a 1:4 defeat to Italy, while Belarus lost to Spain with a score of 3:6.
The scheduled match for third place between Ukraine and Belarus was set to take place on September 14 at 15:30 in Viareggio, Italy, but was canceled by the Ukrainian team.
As a result, Belarus is awarded the bronze medal automatically.
It is noteworthy that Ukraine completely abstained from participating in the 2023 Euroleague and the 2024 World Championship due to Belarusian athletes competing under their flag.
This act of protest marks a significant milestone in the history of Ukrainian beach soccer and underscores the ongoing influence of politics on sports.
Previously, Ukraine also boycotted the World Judo Championship over Belarusian participation under their own flag, highlighting the country’s consistent stance against politically motivated sports compromises.