All-england is so right over all Russians

WIMBLEDON took a hardline stance this week – barring any Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s tournament.

They were met with “politics shouldn’t interfere with sport” from six-time champion Novak Djokovic.

And Russia’s world No.8 Andrey Rublev said it was “discrimination”.

Worse still, it has been mooted that there will be legal challenges to the All-england club’s ruling. Er, hello? Kids are dying daily in Ukraine because Russian despot Vladimir Putin has embarked upon a personal legacy war and tennis players are moaning about exclusion?

Djokovic needs to be reminded that sportsmen can’t exist in a bubble – he fell foul of that issue at the Australian Open.

As for Rublev’s “discrimination”, it’s indiscriminate bombing that has already killed tens of thousands of innocent lives.

When bodies are piling up on Ukraine streets he needs to grab some perspective.

The stars who play sport should know they don’t operate in a vacuum.

Ukraine’s former Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina (above) said any Russian or Belarusian player denouncing Putin’s war should be allowed to compete at Wimbledon.

But don’t hold your breath.

In the meantime, a hearty ‘well done’ goes to the committee of the All-england club.

TONY MCCOY has blasted chatter of the Cheltenham Festival turning into a five-day affair. And, I for one, stand alongside the legendary jockey.

As a patron at Prestbury Park since 1994, I opposed the move to add Friday to the calendar.

I still don’t think it’s improved the quality of the racing.

Cheltenham is the pinnacle of racing over the jumps because of standards it maintains and protects.

If it dilutes them, it is running the risk of harming the product. Then punters won’t view it as special.

And, once that happens, the magic is lost, interest will die off – and it won’t return.