Tennis star Novak Djokovic received a warning from Tennis Australia Thursday after his father was seen taking photos with supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The tennis authority advised the Djokovic family, which is Serbian, to refrain from promoting political causes.

The video of Srdjan Djokovic, Novak’s father, was reportedly captured and posted shortly after his son’s resounding quarterfinal victory over Andrey Rublev. The father was caught holding a Russian flag alongside an individual wearing a shirt bearing the letter “Z.” The symbol has appeared on Russian military vehicles during the country’s conflict with Ukraine and has become an emblem indicating support for the Putin regime. He can also be heard saying something that reportedly translates to “Long live the Russians.”

Beyond the court, where has dominated thus far, Djokovic has had a turbulent time at the 2023 Australian Open. The Serbian star faced a whirlwind of questions upon arriving, as his vaccine status barred him from competing in the tournament in 2022. Controversies off the court have provided a stark contrast to his five nearly flawless matches in the tournament itself.

Though his father’s thoughts on the war in Ukraine are less well known and clearly sympathizes with Russians to some extent, Djokovic has addressed the issue several times publicly since it began. He reportedly reached out to Ukrainian player Sergiy Stakhovsky to offer support when the conflict first began. He also criticized Wimbledon for barring Russian and Belarusian competitors from last year’s tournament.

Barring some extraordinary event in which another political stance is taken, it is unlikely that the warning Djokovic and his father received will impact his standing in the tournament. Djokovic entered as a heavy favorite on the hard court in Melbourne and has maintained that status in the initial stages. He has won the Australian Open nine times since 2008, making it his most successful event.

After four months detainment in Russia, WNBA star Britney Giriner was found guilty of attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the country on Thursday. Griner was then sentenced to nine years in prison by the Russian court.

Since her arrest in mid-February many have speculated what Griner’s punishment would be and if she would be returned to the U.S. in a timely manner.

As of last week, the two countries have been discussing a prisoner swap that involves Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Griner.

According to reports, Moscow is leaning towards rejecting the swap unless they get two Russians in return. Officials in Moscow said previously that a verdict in the trial was necessary for a possible exchange. Now that sentence has been handed down it remains to be seen what lies in store for Griner.

Griner’s defense team had been calling on the judge to be more lenient on the sentence, noting that the star did not know she was breaking the law when she brought hashish oil into the country.

They also highlighted Griner’s contributions to the development of Russian basketball and her personality. That same personality was evident in Griner’s plea, highlighting her core values and the need to “take ownership for [her] responsibilities.”

“That’s why I pleaded guilty to my charges; I understand everything that has been said against me in the charges against me, but I had no intent to break Russian law,” she said. “I want the court to understand that it was an honest mistake that I made while rushing and in stress trying to recover post-Covid and just trying to get back to my team.”

“I grew up in a normal house, a normal household in Houston, Texas, with my siblings and my mom and my dad,” Griner told the court. “My parents taught me two important things: One, take ownership for your responsibilities and two, work hard for everything that you get. That’s why I pleaded guilty to my charges.”

The news of Griner’s sentence will no doubt heighten pressure on the Biden Administration to complete a successful prisoner swap.

Detained WNBA Star Britney Griner has pleaded guilty to drug charges stemming from a February 17 arrest in which authorities found two vape cartridges full of cannabis oil in her luggage while she was returning to Russia to play for her Russian team.

Since the start of her trial last week many have been speculating on the plea that Griner and her legal team would present before her prosecutors. Many supporters of Griner have been calling for her release saying that she is a political pawn after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to reports, Griner told the court that she had not intended to commit any crimes or carry drugs in her luggage. The 31-year-old had discussed her plea decision with her family, experts and lawyers but ultimately the decision to plead guilty was hers alone. She had been urged to look at all her options especially considering Russia’s 99% criminal conviction rate. Many expected that she would take on a plea that would lead to a shorter sentence. Prosecutors are arguing that Griner intended to import the drugs into Russia’s territory and intentionally put the known-prohibited substances into a backpack and suitcase.

A guilty sentence would also heighten the chances of a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia similar to the one that freed veteran Trevor Reed, who was detained in Russia for three years before a prisoner swap brought him home. Before this, however, Griner would have to be convicted and also admit fault. In Reed’s case, he had to sign a document admitting guilty, which was something he had refused to do for much of his detainment.

Prior to her plea President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to Griner’s wife Cherrelle Griner, who said she was grateful for the call from Biden and Harris, “While I will remain concerned and outspoken until she is back home, I am hopeful in knowing that the President read my wife’s letter and took the time to respond. I know BG will be able to find comfort in knowing she has not been forgotten.” she said.

Griner’s next hearing is scheduled for July 14.

On America’s 246th birthday, detained WNBA star Britney Griner sent a handwritten letter to the White House in appeal to President Joe Biden asking for help to win her release. Her letter expressed fears of her being detained in Russia indefinitely and pleaded that the president not forget about her and other detainees.

Griner’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas kept most details of the letter private, saying that was delivered on Monday afternoon. In a heartfelt opening, Griner expressed how different this 4th of July feels as she is not in her beloved country. “As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” she wrote. “On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran. It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”

Griner’s trial for her February arrest began last week, but many fear that it may not lead to her freedom. Russian courts have a 99% conviction rate with the ability to appeal extremely rare.

White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson released a statement saying, “We believe the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner, President Biden has been clear about the need to see all U.S. nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner. The U.S. government continues to work aggressively – using every available means – to bring her home.”

There are other American detainees currently in Russia seeking freedom. Most notably Paul Whelan, a former Marine serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges. Many see a prisoner swap between the two countries as a reasonable way to bring Griner home, similar to the one that occurred in April with Marine veteran Trevor Reed and a Russian pilot.

Griner asked Biden to help ensure her return. “Please do all you can to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you,” she said. “I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”

Wimbledon this year will ban Russian athletes due to the Ukraine invasion.

Such a ban would see world Nos. 2 Daniil Medvedev and 8 Andrey Rublev, and women’s 15 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, unable to compete.

There are conflicting reports as to whether the ban will extend to Belarusian players. Belarus, of course, has acted as an ally during Russia’s antics.

Aryna Sabalenka is ranked No. 4 and former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka is 18th.

Players from the two countries will be allowed to compete as neutral athletes at the French Open, beginning May 22.

After attending a rally hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, two-time Russian Olympic gold medal swimmer Evgeny Rylov saw his sponsorship deal with Speedo ixnayed.

The 25-year-old won gold in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke at last year’s Tokyo Games, and he was one of the eight Russian athletes who appeared on stage at a Moscow rally last week; the rally was to celebrate the eighth year of Russia’s dubious annexation of Crimea.

“Following his attendance at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow at the weekend, Speedo can confirm that it has terminated the sponsorship of Evgeny Rylov with immediate effect,” the swimwear maker said.

“We condemn the war in Ukraine in the strongest possible way and stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, our athletes, and our teammates who have been impacted by the conflict.

“As part of this decision, any outstanding sponsorship fees will be donated to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.”

Rylov wore his Olympic medals at the rally as well as the letter Z—a mark used by Russians to show their support for the war—on his clothes.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) said in a statement: “FINA is deeply disappointed to note the reports regarding Evgeny Rylov’s appearance at the Luzhniki Stadium during Friday’s rally. We are investigating the matter further.”

As U.S. officials say they’ve not spoken to Brittney Griner since her arrest in Moscow on February 17 on drug charges, a State Department official said in a statement Thursday, “We insist the Russian government provide consular access to all U.S. citizen detainees in Russia, including those in pre-trial detention, as Brittney Griner is.”

The statement marks a change in tune from the government with regards to the basketball star, as it had kept a tight wrap on the case so as not to make her a bargaining chip with Russia.

Despite this, a source close to Griner says, “We know she’s ok.”

“I wouldn’t say she’s ‘good,’ but she’s ok,” the source added.

Griner, accused of bringing marijuana vape cartridges into Russia, had a court hearing Wednesday during which prosecutors were granted an extension until May 19 for a pre-trial investigation. While it shocked some, the move was expected.

“We are closely engaged on this case and in frequent contact with Brittney Griner’s legal team,” the State Department statement said. “We have repeatedly asked for consular access to these detainees and have consistently been denied access. Russia must abide by its legal obligations and allow us to provide consular services for U.S. citizens detained in Russia. We take our responsibility to assist U.S. citizens seriously, and we will continue to press for fair and transparent treatment for all U.S. citizens when they are subject to legal processes overseas.”

At only 19 years old, former Ukrainian biathlete Yevhen Malyshev was killed while defending his country from the Russian invasion.

The specifics of his death haven’t been released, but officials say that he died “serving in the Ukrainian military.”

“The EB expresses its deepest condolences on the loss,” the International Biathlon Union’s executive board said.

The teenager competed in 2018 on Ukraine’s biathlon junior team, though he called it quits when Covid-19 madness began in 2020.

“The EB once again condemns the Russian attacks on Ukraine and the support provided by Belarus and reiterates its hope for an immediate end to the war,” they added.

Athletes and high-profile figures serving their country is nothing new with this recent episode in the Ukraine: Most notably, retired boxing stars Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko took up arms to protect their fellow citizens, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy famously said, “I need ammunition, not a ride.”

In an attempt to reverse its reputation as a place where wealthy Russians with connections to President Vladimir Putin are welcome to do business, Britain Thursday froze the assets of seven prominent Russian businesspeople, most notably Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.

As tensions on the heels of the Ukraine invasion mounted, Abramovich last week said that he’s selling his West London soccer club. However, this move has blocked the sale, though the club can still play games but can’t sell tickets, merchandise or sign players.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the government have been pushing through legislation that aims to make it tougher to hide wealth in London. They’ve also sanctioned 18 Russian oligarchs—fewer than were targeted by the U.S. or E.U.

“Today’s sanctions show once again that oligarchs and kleptocrats have no place in our economy or society,” British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Thursday. “With their close links to Putin, they are complicit in his aggression.”

Abramovich built his fortune, estimated at $12 billion, by gaining control of resources, including oil and aluminum, that had been owned by the state before the Soviet Union’s collapse.

The British officials said Abramovich is “one of the few oligarchs from the 1990s to maintain prominence under Putin.” However, he has previously denied any relationship with Putin; he has confirmed that he was contacted by Ukraine to help facilitate peace talks.

The others on the British sanctions list were Oleg Deripaska, a former business partner of Abramovich with stakes in En+ Group; Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin; Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller; Nikolai Tokarev, president of state-owned pipeline company Transneft; VTB Bank Chairman Andrey Kostin; and Bank Rossiya Chairman Dmitri Lebedev.

Together, they have a collective net worth of about $19.8 billion – and all are banned from traveling to and doing business with Britain, its citizens, or its companies, though Abramovich is the only one unsanctioned by the U.S.

“It’s real progress, but we’re playing catch-up,” said Charlie Loudon, legal adviser with human rights organization Redress, which is tracking the sanctions.

Russian athlete Ivan Kuliak’s “shocking behavior” at the gymnastics Apparatus World Cup event in Doha, Qatar, has been duly noted by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

FIG was brief on details, but its statement comes on the heels of the 20-year-old wearing a “Z” symbol on his leotard while standing next to Ukrainian athlete ​Illia Kovtun on the podium; the former won bronze in the parallel bars Saturday while Kovtun took gold.

The “Z” mark has been displayed on Russian tanks and vehicles—as well as in propaganda videos on social media—in the Ukrainian invasion and has since become a symbol of support for Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin.

“The International Gymnastics Federation confirms that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary proceedings against Ivan Kuliak following his shocking behavior at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Qatar,” a FIG statement said.

​“I don’t think that Ivan wanted to make a special demonstration, but we will support him in any case,” said Head of the Artistic Gymnastics Federation of Russia Vasily Titov. “It was a violation of the uniform approved by the FIG. I think that they can punish, they can also remove us from participation. But we were already removed.”

Russian athletes are yet again facing consequences for their country’s invasion of Ukraine, as Russia was banned Tuesday from competing in international ice-skating events.

The move comes one day after Russian athletes were disqualified from soccer and hockey competition, the latter of which is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s favorite sport.

The International Skating Union (ISU) said that no athletes from Russia or Belarus “shall be invited or allowed to participate” in events until further notice.

“The ISU Council reiterates its solidarity with all those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the entire Ukrainian people and country,” the ISU said in a statement.

Belarus has been an ally of Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

The world figure skating championships are scheduled for later this month in France, and the decision mean Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova and 15-year-old teammate Kamila Valieva—the center of an ongoing doping dispute at the Winter Olympics—will be excluded from the competition.

Also, the International Volleyball Federation said it has stripped Russia of hosting the men’s world championships in August and September.

“It would be impossible to prepare and stage the World Championships in Russia due to the war in Ukraine,” the board said.

The sport of swimming, on the other hand, has eschewed the recommendation to ban Russians. FINA, the sport’s governing body, said Tuesday it’ll allow Russian and Belarusian swimmers to take part “as neutrals, competing under the FINA flag and with the FINA anthem.”

FINA’s website still lists Russia as hosting December’s world short-course championships. The swimming body did, however, say it had withdrawn a federation honor awarded to Putin in 2014.

The International Ski Federation followed in FINA’s footsteps, but the Norwegian Ski Federation said Tuesday it would block Russians from competing in upcoming World Cup events in its country.

“We had hoped that FIS would reach the same conclusion on behalf of all ski nations, but now the Norwegian Ski Federation can no longer wait. The executive board has therefore today decided to notify FIS that Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming events in Norway,” Norwegian Ski Federation president Erik Roste said.

Among the Americans in Russian custody is WNBA star Brittney Griner, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged other Americans to leave the country while the U.S. is working to bring detained Americans home.

Griner was arrested and detained at a Moscow-area airport after authorities accused her of transporting drugs. It’s unclear when the arrest took place, though reports have said officials found marijuana vape cartridges on her.

Griner plays for both Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, the latter of which said Saturday that it was “aware of and closely monitoring the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia. We remain in constant contact with her family, her representation, the WNBA, and the NBA.”

“There’s only so much I can say given the privacy considerations at this point,” Blinken said Sunday. “Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we, of course, stand ready to provide every possible assistance, and that includes in Russia.”

Although the country is urging Americans to flee Russia, Blinken said it’s not closing its Moscow embassy.

“In times like these, it’s important that we maintain our diplomatic contacts, that we maintain the diplomatic support, particularly support that we can provide to Americans who may need it,” he said.

One of the WNBA’s premier players, Griner won the 2014 WNBA championship with Phoenix as well as a gold medal at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.

Vladimir Putin’s brazen invasion of Ukraine has drawn ire around the globe. World Taekwondo has made its voice heard by stripping the Russian president of his black belt.

The international governing body of the sport, World Taekwondo said that Russia’s attack on Ukraine goes against the group’s mantra, “Peace is more precious than triumph,” as well as its values of respect and tolerance.

“In this regard, World Taekwondo has decided to withdraw the honorary 9th dan black belt conferred to Mr. Vladimir Putin in November 2013,” it said.

Other 9th dan black belt holders include former U.S. President Barack Obama and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The organization added that Russian flags and anthems will not be seen or heard at their events, and the same goes for Russian ally Belarus. In addition, no taekwondo events will be organized or recognized in the two countries at present time.

“World Taekwondo’s thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and we hope for a peaceful and immediate end to this war,” the organization said.

Putin, 69, Sunday was also suspended as the honorary president and ambassador of the International Judo Federation.

On Monday, FIFA and UEFA suspended all of Russia’s teams and clubs from international competitions.

On the heels of severe backlash within the Athletes Village, organizers of the Winter Paralympics Thursday about-faced and expelled Russian and Belarusian athletes from the games, which kick off on Friday. The move will jettison 71 Russian and 12 Belarusian athletes.

The action comes less than a day after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said it would permit athletes from the two nations to compete—under the condition that they do so as neutral athletes, sans any national symbols whatsoever after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The war has now come to these games and behind the scenes many governments are having an influence on our cherished event,” IPC President Andrew Parsons said. “We were trying to protect the Games from war.”

The IPC underestimated the negative reaction to the original decision, Parsons said. He added that the committee was trying to foster harmony, but its actions had the opposite effect.

“We don’t have reports of any specific incidents of aggression or anything like that,” Parsons said. “But it was a very, very volatile environment in the (Athletes) Village.

“It was a very rapid escalation which we did not think was going to happen. We did not think that entire delegations, or even teams within delegations, will withdraw, will boycott, will not participate.”

Latvian curlers threatening to boycott a match against the Russians was the catalyst for the reversal, and things quickly snowballed from there.

“That threatens the viability of this event. So that’s a huge change,” IPC spokesman Craig Spence said. “The atmosphere in the Village is not pleasant.”

Potential litigation could be on the horizon, Parsons warned.

“We do believe that the Russian Paralympic Committee and the Belarussian Paralympic Committee may take legal action,” Parsons said. “But the facts that we express here led us to understand that this was the right decision to be taking.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the decision a “disgrace.”

Sports such as soccer, track, basketball, hockey and others have also instituted similar bans on Russians and Belarussians. The International Olympic Committee left the final ban decision to individual governing bodies.

The Beijing Paralympics close on March 13.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who owns the Premier League football club Chelsea, has accepted a Ukrainian request to help negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

“I can confirm Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in achieving a peaceful resolution, and that he has been trying to help ever since,” an Abramovich spokesperson said. “Considering what is at stake, we would ask for understanding as to why we have not commented on either the situation as such or his involvement.”

There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian government.

Jewish and of Israeli citizenship, Abramovich was one of the most powerful businessmen who earned fortunes after the 1991 dissolving of the Soviet Union; his net worth is ranked at $13.3 billion. A commodities trader who thrived in the chaos of the 1990s under then-President Boris Yeltsin, Abramovich acquired stakes in the Sibneft oil company, Rusal aluminum producer and Aeroflot that were later sold.

Under Russian President Vladimir Putin, Abramovich, 55, served as governor of the Arctic region of Chukotka in the country’s Far East.

It’s unclear what role he will have in talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials, which began on Monday at the Belarusian border. The Ukrainian president’s office said his country’s goal was an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of troops. The Kremlin has not said what its objectives are in the talks.

Recently, two other Russian billionaires, Mikhail Fridman and Oleg Deripaska, have called for an end to the war.

Putin used an early-morning address to the nation on February 24 to order “a special military operation” against Ukraine just a few days after recognizing two Russian-backed rebel regions of Ukraine.

Putin said he was ordering the military operation to protect people, including Russian citizens, from “genocide”—an accusation the opposition insists is baseless propaganda.

FIFA and UEFA have suspended all Russian international and club teams from competitions “until further notice,” the pair announced in a joint statement Monday.

The world’s governing soccer body, FIFA, and European’s, UEFA, said that each’s presidents—Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Čeferin, respectively—“hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people.”

UEFA’s competitions include the men’s and women’s Champions League, the men’s Europa League and the men’s UEFA Conference League.

Spartak Moscow was set to play RB Leipzig in the Europa League, with the first leg in Germany on March 10 and the second leg March 17, but that tilt has now been ixnayed.

“The UEFA Europa League matches between RB Leipzig and FC Spartak Moskva cannot take place, and, as a consequence, RB Leipzig are qualified to the quarter-finals of the competition,” UEFA said in a statement.

There are no Russian teams left in UEFA’s other club competitions this year.

FIFA’s jurisdiction means that, as it stands, Russia will not be able to compete in its World Cup playoff against Poland on March 24.

That was originally set to take place in Russia until FIFA said Sunday that Russia must play all upcoming international matches on neutral sites sans fans with the moniker “Football Union of Russia,” following the invasion of Ukraine.

“Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA an UEFA competitions until further notice,” said Monday’s joint statement.

“These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters.

“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine.”

On the heels of the Ukrainian invasion, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged “with a heavy heart” sports bodies Monday to exclude the country’s athletes and officials from international events.

The IOC said the move is necessary to “protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants.”

The decision paved the way for FIFA to exclude Russia from a March 24 World Cup qualifying playoff match; Poland has refused to play the tilt against Russia.

The urge also applied to athletes and officials from Belarus, which has abetted Russia’s invasion by allowing its territory to be used to station troops and launch military attacks.

The ICO added that where exclusion was “not possible on short notice for organizational or legal reasons” then teams from Russia and Belarus should compete as neutral athletes, including at the upcoming Winter Paralympics in Beijing.

The IOC also withdrew Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2001 Olympic Order, and other Russian officials since.

European sports bodies had already moved against Russia on Monday by refusing to host or play against teams: Finland wants the Russian hockey team banned from the men’s world championships it will host in May; the Swiss soccer federation said its women’s team will not play Russia in July at the European Championship; and German soccer club Schalke said it had decided to end its longstanding partnership with Russian energy company Gazprom.

FIFA declined to ban Russia from the World Cup. Instead, the soccer body said the country’s national team will have to compete as Football Union of Russia. Besides Poland, both Sweden and the Czech Republic, Russia’s next potential opponents, have said they would refuse to take the field against them.

“The Swedish Football Association is disappointed with FIFA’s decision but is determined to continue to work together with other federations to cancel Russia’s matches in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers,” the body said, citing the “illegal and deeply unjust invasion of Ukraine.”

The World Cup is scheduled to begin on Nov. 21 in Qatar.

There’s precedent for removing Russian teams. In 1992, following U.N. sanctions, FIFA and UEFA expelled Yugoslavia from its competitions when Balkan war broke out.

After an emotional start to the group stages of Euro 2020, Denmark went from being second to last in Group B to advance to the knockout stages after a dramatic 4-1 victory over Russia as Belgium simultaneously defeated Finland 2-0.

The horrifying collapse of Christian Eriksen in Denmark’s 1-0 loss to Finland was the start of a dramatic group stage for the Danes. Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field.

Coming into the group finale, Denmark did not have a single point after losing to group leader Belgium. After heroics in their match against Russia, Denmark was able to advance on goal differential over Russia and Finland, all of whom finished with three points.

Three second-half goals, most notably the stunning strike by Chelsea‘s Andreas Christensen, made the difference in Denmark’s match against Russia. This game was played in front of a passionate home crowd in Denmark on the same field where Eriksen collapsed. After the final goal, Joakim Mæhle signaled the number 10 to the camera, in honor of his teammate Eriksen.

Simultaneously Belgium and Finland played a closely contested match. Denmark needed a Belgian win to advance to the knockout stage of the competition. As Denmark’s match concluded slightly prior to Belgium-Finland, Danish players gathered on the field to check the score on their cell phones before erupting into celebration.

If Finland had managed to hold on for the tie, they would have advanced to the Knockout Stage in place of Denmark. Now, Denmark will face Group A winner Wales in the Round of 16.

Russia has revealed their new team brand as “ROC” due to the country’s name being banned from the next two Olympics.

The team name is an acronym for Russian Olympic Committee. The name was agreed upon by both the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency. Both of the mentioned organizations have accused Russia of running a state-backed doping program for Russian athletes.

Russia’s team name, flag, and national anthem are banned from the Tokyo Olympics and the upcoming 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. The ban was imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that gave the country two years of sanctions for tampering with a testing database in Moscow while the laboratory was under state control.

The agreement to use the name ROC avoids using the word “neutral,” which the WADA insisted must counterbalance any reference to the word “Russia” on team uniforms and equipment.

The ROC symbol will be used as the team’s flag for both the Tokyo Olympics and the Winter Games. There is still no official music piece to replace the team’s national anthem at medal ceremonies yet. The ROC is expected to submit the piece “Katyusha,” a patriotic Soviet-era folk song.

This year, Russian athletes have competed under names such as Russian Ski Federation or Russian Luge Federation at world championships. The governing body of track and field requires Russians to compete as Authorized Neutral Athletes.

Aside from the name change, Russia has been barred from bidding for or being awarded hosting rights for major sports until December 2022. The governing body of wrestling delayed Russia’s hosting of the competition by one year to 2023. On Friday, the governing body of sport climbing, a sport slated for its debut during the Tokyo Olympics will retain Moscow as the host of their world championship in September.

With a comeback victory, the Canadian Junior National team defeated Russia 4-3 to win the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic.

This was the eighth meeting since 2002 of these two nations at the annual U-20 tournament. Canada improves its record to 5-3 and brings back the country’s 18th title overall.

The game started scoreless after one period. As the scoreboard grew, Canada trailed by one in the middle of the third, ultimately tying it up. With 3:57 left in regulation, Los Angeles Kings prospect Akil Thomas scored the game-winning goal, giving Canada the title.

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But fans in Russia were given misinformation after a confusingly timed TV repeat of the 2011 final aired on one of the two channels showing the finals. The other channel was live.

Some fans witnessed the disappointing loss, but many saw the 9-year old comeback and 5-3 victory from 2011.

Fans celebrated with messages on social media, or complaints about the wrong score. It became too hard to determine jokes versus those who had been shown the wrong game.

In an Instagram post, Yana Tarasenko, wife of St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko, said her husband watched the 2011 game thinking it was live “until he saw himself in the game.”

Tarasenko played for the winning Russian team in 2011.

Match TV, the channel airing the wrong game, did not respond to comment and it is unclear why the television channel decided to show the 2011 final at the same time as the live broadcast.