The Volleyball Federation (EOPE) is in danger of bankruptcy as its account was “frozen” due to a debt of 300,000 to the company. The President will resign. We may not qualify for the European Championships. But the men’s A1, organized by ESAP, is “in the air” due to non-payment of money from the Stavka. If they are not paid, “it becomes doubtful even almost impossible to start the championship,” ESAP emphasizes. We’ve been reading this for several days now.

Volleyball is indeed in danger. But not for these reasons. The president has not resigned, the men’s team normally participates in the qualifiers and a solution will be found, since the company’s payment was an obligation of the state and simply the money was paid through EOPE. And the A1 championship will begin, as always. After all, it has been tormented for many years, but, finally, it is being realized. Even “lame”, with 8 or 10 teams instead of 12.

However, it is precisely those clubs that cannot cope financially, if they are not subsidized by the Stavka, who are asked to have five foreign players instead of the current four. Well, that’s what the sport is in danger of. Because, in fact, for years the production of international level players has been stopped (with very rare exceptions), and the existing ones are being recycled from team to team. Thus, we have come to the moment of celebration, because in 2019 and 2021 our team returned to the “living rooms” after 2009. Yes, but in living rooms with 24 guests. Not from 16, as it was from 2007 to 2017, and not from 12, as before.

Therefore, the demands of the trade unions had to be different: the reduction of foreigners. The pole of two strangers points the way.