Belarus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Czech chargé d’affaire Petr Halax in protest against the expulsion of the chief of the Belarus Football Federation, Vladimir Bazanov, from the Czech Republic. According to the Czech authorities, Bazanov arrived in the country without a permit and violated epidemic measures.
“We strongly protest against the official steps of Prague in connection with the situation that happened to Bazanov in the Czech Republic on Nov. 30, 2021,” Anatol Hlaz, a spokesman for Belarus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented on the incident.
According to Hlaz, Belarus will ask Prague for a proper explanation of the incident. The president of the Belarusian Football Association is already on his way to Belarus, the spokesman added.
On Tuesday, Bazanov and his wife arrived without permission at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier in Opava in the eastern part of the republic. They were detained by the foreign police for several hours and then ordered to leave the country on Wednesday.
Already on Monday, Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek said that if Bazanov came to the Czech Republic, he would be deported.
