Russian Supporters Choose Serbia Support At Qatar's 2022 World Cup: They Are Brothers

Illustration of Russian fans. (Photo: Twitter/@TeamRussia)

JAKARTA - The Russian national team did not appear in the Qatar 2022 World Cup. However, their supporters remain late in the euphoria of the world's grand football pest.

At a crowded bar in Moscow, football fans wearing red, white, and blue uniforms appeared to be gathering in front of the TV screen as the team lined up to sing the national anthem ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup match.

But this time the color of their clothes is not to represent the Russian flag. They compactly support Serbia in this edition of the World Cup.

"We have always supported them and we will continue to support them: I think Serbia is a brother," said Kirill Gnevuchev, manager of a cooling equipment company at a bar in central Moscow, as quoted by Antara from AFP, Monday, November 28, 2022.

And at the Moscow bar, which was very busy on weekdays, the conflict in Ukraine seemed far away.

A number of young women cheered with the Serbian flag painted on their cheeks, other fans discussed the match while sipping cold beer while two bookies were betting past the table collecting bets.

"I'm betting on winning Brazil, but I support Serbia," said Roman Marshak, a 34-year-old professional control player.

"If Brazil wins, I get money. If Serbia wins, I'll be happy!" he continued.

Meanwhile Roman Yanchinsky, a▁peringatan, said he was happy the place was crowded that day. "The Serbian river shop is full today," said the 41-year-old man.

According to a poll conducted in mid-November by Russian sports news website Championat, Serbia was Russia's favorite support team during the World Cup.

And with the absence of the Russian team, Russian sports commentators instead discussed the performance of Serbian strikers Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

"Good luck at the World Cup! We believe in your success, brothers and sisters!" the Russian national team said on its social media in a message in Serbian.

Russia cannot appear in Qatar's 2022 World Cup following sanctions from FIFA. The host of the 2018 World Cup was sanctioned because the Russian government carried out a military invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, neighboring Serbia's European countries have imposed sanctions on Russia's attacks on Ukraine, Belgrade's close ties to Moscow have remained largely intact.