Disturbing statements!
Ex-Formula 1 boss Ecclestone publicly raves about "honorable man" Putin
Created: 02/03/2022 13:08
By: Antonio Jose Riether
The war is currently raging in Ukraine, but former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has continued to defend Russian President Vladimir Putin.
London - The armed conflict in Ukraine has already triggered major sports policy decisions.
After UEFA stripped St. Petersburg of the Champions League final, the Russian association was also banned from this year's World Cup in Qatar.
There was also a reaction in other sports, for example Formula 1 canceled the Grand Prix in Sochi planned for September.
Formula 1: Bernie Ecclestone with a bizarre hymn of praise for Putin - "As a person very straightforward and honorable"
Contrary to these signs, the former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone surprised with confused statements about Vladimir Putin.
In an interview with the British broadcaster Times Radio
, the 91-year-old Englishman defended
the Russian president's invasion and caused outrage with his grotesque statements about the current situation.
Ecclestone and Putin have met frequently at Grand Prix races after the two struck a deal for permanent Formula 1 appearances in Russia in 2010.
In the midst of Russia's war of aggression, Ecclestone called the Russians "an honorable man" - and went even further.
“As a person, I found him very straightforward and honorable.
He did exactly what he said.
Without arguments,” he added.
Bernie Eccleston
DOB: October 28, 1930 (age 91 years)
Place of Birth: Saint Peter, South Elmham, United Kingdom
Former activity: Managing Director of the Formula 1 Holding SLEC (until 2017)
When asked about past statements by Putin, in which he dismissed Europe's concerns about an invasion of his troops in Ukraine as hysteria, Ecclestone only responded with the cryptic counter-question: "Circumstances are changing, aren't they?" The sports official also sees the cancellation of the Sochi race not as final.
"I think it very much depends on the exact situation between Ukraine and Russia," said the former managing director of the Formula 1 holding company SLEC, who no longer has any direct influence on the decisions.
Formula 1: Ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has raved about Vladimir Putin in the past
Ecclestone has already let it be known in recent years that he has a soft spot for autocratic forms of government.
For example, in an interview with
The Times
in 2019, he said that he would like to see Putin as head of the European continent.
"I would like him to rule Europe," said the billionaire.
“I am not a supporter of democracy.
You need a dictator.
As a dictator you say: 'This is how I do it.'
In a democracy, everything gets watered down,” he continued.
But it didn't stop there, Ecclestone went even further in the 2019 interview.
"If someone had a machine gun and wanted to shoot Putin, I would stand in front of him," said the former boss of the premier class, who justified his opinion very naively: "Because he's a good guy.
He's never done anything that wasn't good for people."
The recent attack on Ukraine reveals that the exact opposite is the case.
(ajr)
.