Ostap Safin in Sparta Prague jersey Source: Profimedia
PRAGUE – In an interview with iDNES.cz, hockey player Ostap Safin denied that he had renounced his Czech citizenship because of his engagement in the Russian club Lada Togliatti.
The native of Prague with Russian roots kept this, as well as the Russian passport, which he already had due to his origins. Most recently in Russia, he only received the so-called sports citizenship, thanks to which he is not considered a foreigner in the KHL.
The information that he gave up his Czech passport and will soon receive Russian citizenship appeared in the Czech Republic after the interview of Togliatti sports manager Rafik Jakubov for the club’s website. According to Safin, the adjective “sporty” fell out of the connection “Russian citizenship” for the manager.
“I’ve had a Russian passport forever, only the media invented that I’m still getting it. That’s not true. Just like the claim that I gave up my Czech citizenship. I don’t understand what kind of nonsense it is. I’ve had dual citizenship since childhood and I didn’t have to disturb nothing” said the twenty-four-year-old hockey player.
They don’t count me as European
Sports citizenship is different from the state citizenship he already had. It will help Safin not to be subject to the quota of a maximum of three foreigners that clubs can deploy in KHL matches.
“It’s just a formality. It was easy for me because I already had dual citizenship and a Russian passport. I knew about the limits of foreigners in the league, and thanks to Russian sports citizenship I had a better chance of getting into the team. They don’t count me as a European.” said Safín.
Photo gallery (2) Source: Profimedia
He is one of five Czechs who, despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine, signed a contract in the KHL and will play in it next season. “I made decisions as a player from the point of view of the level of hockey and I know that there is good hockey in Russia. I didn’t think about the war. I really came here for hockey, unfortunately I can’t change the rest. I’m also sorry that I can’t play for the Czech national team , but what can be done. It’s a difficult topic, but it’s not my decision,” stated.
Safin is a foster child of Sparta. Last season he played for his parent club, to which he returned from overseas. Although he extended his contract with Sparta in March, he asked to terminate the contract in the summer. Safin played 41 games in the extra league, scoring eight goals and making five assists. He added a goal in two playoff games. In the past, he played for the youth Czech national teams and presented himself at the under-18 and under-20 world championships.
Author: © List Source: CTK
2023-08-16 17:00:29
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