Russia, Sports, and State-Sponsored Terrorism

Has not been a good week for Russia lately, and I have a feeling something further is about to go down as a result...

• I've already covered the threatened Russia disqualification from Euro 2016.  It is now clear, to most, that the hooliganism efforts of the Russian ultra-violent soccer fans is state-sponsored terrorism.

Some of the reactions from the Russian officials regarding the unrest for the England match were quite disturbing (from a Deadspin article after the Russia-England unrest last weekend):

1. From Igor Lebedev, on the executive committee of the Russian Football Union:  “I don’t see anything wrong with the fans fighting.  Quite the opposite, well done lads, keep it up!”
2. Later, he went and doubled down:  “In nine out of 10 cases, football fans go to games to fight, and that’s normal. The lads defended the honour of their country and did not let English fans desecrate our motherland. We should forgive and understand our fans.”
3. And then there's this:

Russian top cop: gay pride parades have made French police weak and unprepared for mighty, manly Russian hooligans https://t.co/RxdyyRtXzF

— max seddon (@maxseddon) June 13, 2016

To wit, I have one response:  #ShootBack

So now, today, British politicians are stating that some of the hooligans in France are actually Russian uniformed police who are acting on Vlad Putin's orders to disrupt Euro 2016.  This is an ominous situation for the World Cup in two years, which I would have to believe most of the organized world is about to boycott as a result.

This would stand to reason.  The state-sponsored doping and intimidation tactics to desecrate the Homophobe-lympics in Sochi were also part of what is becoming evident as Putin's concept of "hybrid warfare" -- extend the violent reach internationally while using propaganda to hold the line on the homeland front.

Oh, that...

• The Russian track disqualification from Rio 2016 has been upheld by the IAAF this week.  The IOC officially supports this disqualification.

And it needs to be quickly followed by an IOC removal of the entire Russian team from the event.

Word is, they're not boycotting.

• Declan Hill has a number of thoughts as to where a lot of this can go.

If you think this doesn't end violently -- you're funny.

Actually, you're not funny, but you better get that point and get it fast, world sports community.