WTA: Million penalty for Wimbledon and the English association
The WTA has fined the All England Lawn Tennis Club and the British Association for excluding Russian and Belarusian tennis players from English lawn tournaments.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jul 04, 2022, 11:12 am
First of all: It would not affect poorhouses. Because both the British Tennis Association (LTA) and the organizing club of Wimbledon, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), are swimming in money. And so the £620,000 (AELTC) and £207,000 (LTA) imposed by the WTA on the two organizations could actually be paid out of petty cash. However, it is very doubtful that this will happen silently and without further consequences.
As a reminder: The LTA and the AELTC had excluded the Russian and Belarusian professionals from this year's grass tournaments in Birmingham, Eastbourne, London's Queen's Club and above all Wimbledon due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. As a result, the ATP and the WTA decided not to award any points for the Wimbledon tournament (for the other events they did - because there were events running at the same time where points could be collected).
No comment from the offenders yet
There is no doubt that the exclusion of Daniil Medvedev , Aryna Sabalenka and Co. was also due to political pressure. Which is why British culture minister Nadine Dorries was one of the first to comment on the WTA's punishment: "Since February, the overwhelming majority of the sports community has come together to condemn Putin's barbaric actions in Ukraine. Regrettably, the international tennis bodies do not seem to be moving along on this issue.” The LTA and Wimbledon should be commended, not penalized, for their decision, Dorries said.
Incidentally, an objection to the fine can only be made once the entire amount has been paid. The AELTC and the LTA have not yet commented on the process.
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