LAUSANNE: Moscow’s criticism of Olympic restrictions on Russian athletes was beyond unacceptable and had reached a “new low,” the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Wednesday.
“It goes beyond anything that is acceptable. To link the president (Germany’s Thomas Bach), his nationality and the Holocaust in the context of this issue reaches a new low,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said.
The IOC on Tuesday both barred Russian athletes from taking part in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 26 and criticized the Kremlin for planning to hold its own “Friendship Games” to rival those held in the French capital.
Those decisions invoked the ire of the Kremlin, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying that they “demonstrate how far the IOC has moved away from its stated principles and slipped into racism and neo-Nazism.”
When Bach was asked about the comments, the German gave a curt reply before asking spokesman Adams to take over.
There are “more quotes coming from Russia that are extremely aggressive and since some of them are very personal also, if you allow I would like to ask Mark Adams to respond to this question,” Bach said.
Adams added: “We’ve seen some very aggressive statements coming out of Russia today, but there’s one comment even which is going beyond that, we’ve even seen one that links the president, his nationality and the Holocaust, and this is completely unacceptable and reaches a new low.”
IOC says ‘aggressive’ Russia criticism a ‘new low’
https://arab.news/ztyhw
IOC says ‘aggressive’ Russia criticism a ‘new low’
- “To link the president (Germany’s Thomas Bach), his nationality and the Holocaust in the context of this issue reaches a new low,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said
- When Bach was asked about the comments, the German gave a curt reply before asking spokesman Adams to take over
Al-Hilal complete second-half comeback against ten-man Al-Nassr to extend SPL lead
- Simone Inzaghi’s side move onto 38 points after a 3-1 victory, seven clear of Al-Nassr
- Al-Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi was sent off in the 60th minute for violent conduct
RIYADH: It was an evening of football drama in Riyadh as the much-anticipated Capital Derby between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr took place at the Kingdom Arena in the headline fixture of Matchday 15. With Al-Nassr four points behind the league leaders prior to the game, victory was essential for Jorge Jesus’ side as they remain in search for their first Saudi Pro League title in seven years.
The game kicked off at a slow place. Inzaghi, setting up his Al-Hilal side in a 5-4-1 defensive shape, tried to draw Al-Nassr deep into their half to exploit them on the counter. With Rúben Neves playing in the middle of a back three, his long passes proved key for the Blues as they targeted the space behind Al-Nassr’s defence.
Al-Nassr did not respond as expected. Jesus’ side have played at a blistering pace this season, characterised by a relentless high press, but this encounter saw Al-Nassr adopt a more cautious approach. Instead, they relied on moments of individual brilliance to break past the compact Al-Hilal structure.
Kingsley Coman was central to that strategy, as his movement between the channels saw the visitors’ most dangerous momment in the 19th minute. Mohammed Al-Rubaie, who had a shaky start in goal, managed to tip the ball wide for a corner.
Neither side appeared willing to overcommit, with the play concentrated in midfield. It was there that João Félix, spotting Coman on the shoulder of his defender, lofted a pass from deep to release the Frenchman, who laid it off to Cristiano Ronaldo for the opener.
Jesus’ first-half paid off, with the goal on the cusp of half-time giving Al-Nassr a vital boost heading into the break. They managed to keep the pressure on early in the second half, but the tide changed within minutes.
Malcom, attempting to cut inside for a shot, was brought down by Mohamed Simakan for a penalty in the 56th minute. Salem Al-Dawsari slotted it with confidence to bring the hosts back into the game, but the defining moment followed shortly after.
As Al-Hilal attempted to retrieve the ball from the net, Al-Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi intervened. In the ensuing scramble, he struck Neves in an incident deemed violent conduct by the referee as he was given his marching orders in the 60th minute.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Al-Nassr did not retreat. However, with Angelo sacrificed for replacement goalkeeper Mubarak Al-Buainain, their attacking threat diminished, making clear chances increasingly difficult to come by.
This opened the door for Al-Hilal’s return into the game, and in the 81st minute, a pinpoint cross by Neves from the left flank found Mohammed Kanno who finished to give the hosts the lead.
Ronaldo was substituted soon after, as Jesus sought fresh impetus through youngster Wesley, but the change failed to alter the course of the match. Al-Hilal were once again awarded a penalty after Al-Dawsari was brought down in stoppage time, before Neves stepped up to convert his penalty for Al-Hilal’s third of the night.
Al-Nassr, who began the season with ten consecutive wins, have now gone four games without a victory — three of them defeats. Their tally freezes at 31 points, as Al-Hilal move clear at the summit onto 38.
Elsewhere in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Hazem moved further clear of the relegation zone after a stunning comeback against Al-Najma. The latter, who were minutes away from their first win of the season, conceded two goals in the sixth and eighth minute of stoppage time to succumb to a 3-2 defeat. Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq welcomed Al-Khaleej in the Eastern Province, losing 2-1 after a Jack Hendry own goal in the 86th minute gifted the visitors the win.
Action returns on Tuesday, with Al-Okhdood facing Al-Kholood at 6:25pm, followed by Al-Fateh against Al-Riyadh and Damac against Al-Ittihad, both kicking off at 8:30pm.
