Google News Andrew Castle explains why Wimbledon did right thing by banning Russian players
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 5581
Former British No. 1 Andrew Castle supports the Wimbledon decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players even though he acknowledged the players from those two countries have done nothing wrong. Castle explained that the whole world is suffering because of what is happening in Ukraine and sanctioning Russia in any way possible is what needs to be done.
“These players are being discriminated against and I say that’s ok,” Castle said on the LBC Show. “I say that’s ok because of the scenes I watch unfold in Mariupol and Melitopol and Odessa. “People are dying – in Mariupol right now they are starving to death.
Mass graves are being dug. “What is it going to take for us to realise that this is not going to stop unless we are all united across creative arts, sport, industry, business, military…everybody. “This is out of proportion to anything that we have seen – probably in our lifetime – and may we never see it again”.
Castle: What is happening in Ukraine is what is really unfair
Some of the biggest names of the game won't be allowed to compete at Wimbledon as Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka are all set to miss The Championships.
“I know it’s not Medvedev’s fault and Rublev and Sabalenka and (Victoria Azarenka and (Anastasia) Pavlyuchenkova,” Castle added. “I know it’s not their fault and I know that they’re good people – but don’t we need to sanction Russian people? “We’re all affected by this, so why should they not be affected for the actions of their government? “Why should Ukrainians be starving to death, orphaned and raped? “You say it’s unfair, the governing body of the ATP (the men’s tour) and the WTA (the women’s tour) say it’s unfair, it’s discrimination, it’s wrong.
“I’ll give you wrong and unfair: what’s taking place in Ukraine. “A message has to be sent – a message of unity”.