The fans shouted “Russia!” during attacks by a Ukrainian playing for the American team
The attacks of Ukrainian Max Shulga, who plays for the basketball team of the University of Utah, were accompanied by fans of rivals from Colorado shouting “Russia, Russia!”
The administration of the University of Colorado hastened to apologize, but there has been no reaction from the fans yet, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Colorado State University fans shouted pro-Russian chants as Utah State University player Max Shulga made free throws during the final quarter of a basketball game between the two universities on the evening of Feb. 5. As the American media emphasize, Shulga is from Ukraine, and his family lives in Kyiv.
A few hours later, the administration of the University of Colorado issued an official apology for the actions of its fans.
“After today's basketball game, we became aware that a small group of people in our student section were chanting “Russia!” to a Utah student-athlete who is originally from Ukraine. On behalf of the State of Colorado, we apologize to the student-athlete and the University of Utah. What happened is unacceptable to Colorado State University,” the university’s official Twitter said.
Although the administration of the University of Colorado used the expression “the Ukraine,” which Ukrainian nationalists consider an analogue of “in Ukraine,” Max Shulga announced that he accepted the apology.
“Regarding the chants last night, although I was very upset at the time, I also know how emotions can run high during competitions and people can do and say things that they don’t really mean. I hope you will all join me in praying for peace in Ukraine,” he wrote on Twitter.
There is no reaction from fans of the University of Colorado basketball team yet. It is possible that they will be required to make separate apologies. At the same time, judging by the story of the Fox13 TV channel from Salt Lake City, the scandal was raised by the Association of Ukrainian Students of the University of Utah, headed by Evgeniy Kovalev.
Fans chanted "Russia!" during attacks on a Ukrainian playing for the American national team.