By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
As Fenerbahce BEKO announced yesterday, the Turkish team was informed by CSKA Moscow officials that the team should undergo COVID-19 tests upon their arrival in Russia.
However, after the communication between the Russian Sports Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their Turkish counterparts regarding the issue, the team entered the country and continued on their way without doing the extra tests.
In order to clear things up on their side, CSKA was contacted by RIA Novosti and stated that the club did everything in its power to help Fenerbahce‘s trip to Russia and that nothing regarding the tests wasn’t mandatory or was tried to be imposed on the opposing squad.
“The Moscow basketball club CSKA used all its connections in government agencies so that the charter of the Turkish Fenerbahce received permission to fly to Russia for the first matches of the Euroleague quarterfinals, the club also recommended that the opponent conduct additional PCR testing upon the team’s arrival in Moscow,” the club’s spokesperson told RIA Novosti and explained that it was just a precautionary measure due to Fenerbahce’s recent coronavirus cases.
“CSKA and Fenerbahce have a long-standing partnership, we have played many interesting matches in the past years and are looking forward to the continuation of the historical confrontation. We are glad to see Fener in Moscow and sincerely wish good health to all players and coaches. Opponents are going through difficult times – according to media information, Istanbul residents have been diagnosed with eight cases of COVID. Taking into account the situation, the guests were recommended to carry out additional PCR testing upon the arrival of the team in Russia. Our club was ready to help ensure that this procedure was as convenient and efficient as possible.”
CSKA admitted that it isn’t a mandatory and usual test but a selective one in accordance with the government decrees, and furthermore reminded that their squad had to go some of those tests as well throughout the season.
“It is not mandatory, it is carried out selectively for those arriving from Turkey in accordance with the decree of Rospotrebnadzor (Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights and Human Wellbeing) dated April 16, 2021. In a pandemic, this is a normal precaution in order to avoid the spread of the virus, as well as prevent infection of the players of the local team and thereby preserve the possibility of continuing the EuroLeague playoffs. Testing on arrival took place in prior occasions and happened to us as well – in Israel, Estonia, before arriving in Germany during the double week of the Euroleague. Moreover, during these periods CSKA did not have a single sick person. We notified the Euroleague office of our intentions.”
Additionally, CSKA pointed out that the club didn’t give ultimatums to Fenerbahce if they chose not to undergo the tests but did inform them that the Russian authorities could, in theory, ban them from re-entry if covid positives were found during their current stay.
“Noone from CSKA management threatened to refuse admission to Russia for the fifth match of the series (if necessary) if they refused to test for coronavirus, as reported by the Turkish club. Among all the circumstances, when the whole world is trying to protect itself with tests, the reaction of opponents to a short and simple test, to which all teams are accustomed, in which there is no malice or huge inconvenience looks strange.”
“We warned our colleagues from Fenerbahce that such a ban is possible by the decision of the Russian authorities if, on a compulsory test on April 22 among the representatives of the club who have arrived in the country, cases of the disease will be revealed. Once again, we note that we are glad to the arrival of Fener and are waiting for the start of the playoffs.”