Vladimir Putin’s Hitler-style invasion of Ukraine – it’s straight from the 1930’s playbook of Czechoslovakia and Poland (Russia got here later, after all) – is an issue for everybody. However what do you do?

It’s an issue for these multinationals, together with companies, which have operations in Russia and, certainly, Ukraine. However most large advert holding firms have loads of Russian-backed firms on their books and they should do one thing about it. Resigning them is the one respectable response.

That received’t particularly damage Vlad and his klepto friends however companies of assorted varieties play a giant position in sport nowadays and that could possibly be made to harm.

The sporting authorities shamelessly chase cash, nevertheless bloodstained it could be. Reference the current Winter Olympics in Beijing, Sochi in Russia earlier than then and the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar (Russia hosted it not too long ago too.). However even they should be reviewing issues now.

Vitality large Gazprom sponsors the Champions League. The subsequent closing is in St Petersburg. UEFA ought to can each preparations forthwith though, likely, there’ll be an array of highly-priced British QCs desirous to sue them. The gamers ought to absolutely act too by refusing to play Russian groups at both membership or nationwide stage.

They are saying a precept isn’t a precept till it prices you one thing. Will sport’s handmaidens be ready to make that alternative?