The main topic of the discussions that have developed in recent weeks around the opening of the World Cup in Russia - to visit the Western leaders of its matches or not, to broadcast Ukrainian television its matches or not. Football, as you know, is a special game. To his fans, common sense denies and for less serious reasons. But the temptations to betray the value of humanism for the sake of banal pleasure would not have arisen if the Championship had not been held in Russia, "Vitaly Portnikov writes in a column on" Crimea. Realities ".

In 1980, the civilized world boycotted the Moscow Olympics in occasion of which it is quite possible to compare with the annexation of Crimea and the occupation of Donbass - in connection with the invasion of Afghanistan.

At the same time, the Soviet leadership formally did not violate anything. Soviet troops introduced into Afghanistan at the official invitation of the then chairman of the Revolutionary Council of the country, Hafizullah Amin (whom, incidentally, the Soviet special forces immediately after the invasion were killed). The Soviet Union and Afghanistan signed an agreement allowing Kabul to address similar requests to Moscow. The new head of Afghanistan, Babrak Karmal, was brought by the invaders, but formally he was representative of the same party as Amin - just a plenum of the Central Committee elected a new general secretary. Yes, Amin was killed - but also killed Amin's predecessor, Nur Mohammed Taraki. Even before the introduction of Soviet troops.

Nevertheless, then all these formalities were not applied to Western countries. The occupation of Afghanistan was disgusted. It was not clear how one could go to the Olympics in a country that unleashed a war against the people of a neighboring state. Nobody denied that sport is outside politics. But that's why no one believed that sport should legitimize the war.

No one invited Russia to the Crimea and the Donbas. There was not even Hafizullah Amin, who could then be shot. The Yanukovich, taken to Rostov, even at the trial can not explain what the function of the Russian troops. Nevertheless, no one refuses to host the football championship in Russia, its western politicians and federations do not even discuss sports boycott (although some leaders of democratic countries have said they will not go to the championship). Well, Crimea is not Afghanistan. And Donbass is not Afghanistan.

Probably, it is worth paying attention to the opinion of the remarkable Russian writer Mikhail Shishkin, who now lives in Switzerland and calls for a boycott of the championship. Shishkin suggested that "Putin abuses the games of the championship just as he abused the Olympics in Sochi. Participation of the combined countries of the world will be presented as a sign of solidarity with the authoritarian regime.

After Sochi annexation of the Crimea took place, then the war began in Ukraine. And what will happen after the World Cup finals? ".

The answer to this question will, obviously, be the most important event of the non-cashed football championship - and not at all the score of the final match and the joy of the winner.

Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Join also the TSN group. Blogs on facebook and follow the updates of the section!.