The first stage of the European Karting Championship among young people took place in the Portuguese city of Portimão and ended up in controversy. The winner was the athlete russo Artyom Severukhin who competed with the Italian flag due to the sanctions imposed on his country. During the award ceremony he touched his chest with his fist and ha ball extended open palm forward by saluting twice saluting. A fragment of the award video went viral on social media. Users noted the inadmissibility of such a gesture and its absurdity in the context of the “special denazification operation”. The International Federation of
The team: we are ashamed, he is fired
«We are deeply ashamed of our driver’s behavior». Thus Ward Racing, the Swedish kart team for which the 15-year-old Russian Artem Severyukhin raced and won yesterday in Portimao, intervenes on «Nazi salute» shown by the driver on the podium and denounced by the Belarusian opposition TV Nexta Tv. The team, which talks about «shares in a personal capacity»announces the will «to terminate his contract for tenders, considering it no longer possible to continue cooperation with Severyukhin».
With a note that appeared on their Facebook profile «in response to personal actions» di Severyukhin, che «condemnation in the clearest possible terms»Ward Racing points out to be «a privately owned Swedish team that unites drivers of different nationalities, who race under licenses from various countries, on a personal basis». «Severyukhin’s actions during the awards ceremony yesterday were exclusively personal and in no way represent the views and values of Ward Racing which, on the contrary, condemns with the international community the Russian invasion of Ukraine and expresses its own solidarity with his people who suffer from a terrifying unjustified attack. From the beginning, we have expressed our no to war and, in addition, we are hosting three Ukrainian families who have no home to return to. As Swedish citizens – continues the note – we are also proud of our country which has taken the historic decision to send weapons to Ukraine to fight against the Russian army». In condemning the gesture of its driver, the team defines it «the manifestation of unsportsmanlike behavior and an unacceptable violation of the ethical and moral code of sport. This stance – concludes the note – is the firm belief of Ward Racing, of all its athletes and its staff».
Aci evaluates license withdrawal
“A deplorable behavior.” The “firm condemnation” by the Automobile Club of Italy of the gesture of the Russian kart driver with Italian license, Artyom Severyukhin, who yesterday in Portimao made the “Nazi salute”, according to the Nexta tv report, on the winner podium. Now a disciplinary procedure is opened for the 15-year-old Severyukhin, and the withdrawal of the Italian license is also evaluated. “Tomorrow – writes the ACI, also sending a message to the Ukrainian federation – an extraordinary junta will be held to take urgent measures regarding the deplorable behavior of the Russian pilot Artyom Severyukhin”
The FIA has opened an investigation
The FIA has announced the opening of an investigation into the greeting of a young Kart driver from the podium of the European Youth Karting stage in Portugal. The FIA called Artyom Severyukhin’s conduct “unacceptable”. The Russian driver who also competes under the Italian flag due to the sanctions imposed on his country for the invasion of Ukraine, after winning the race, beat his chest twice with his fist and stretched his arm forward while saluting during the award ceremony.
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