Brendan O’Neill Brendan O’Neill

Let Daniil Medvedev think what he wants about Putin

Daniil Medvedev in action at Wimbledon last summer (Getty images)

So now you have to undergo a political purity test to play at Wimbledon? Judging from the pressure being put on Daniil Medvedev, that seems to be the case. Medvedev might have to publicly denounce Vladimir Putin in order to enjoy the privilege of competing at Wimbledon this year. As a headline in the Times puts it: ‘Russia’s Daniil Medvedev faces Wimbledon ban unless he disavows Putin.’

This is chilling, no? It is compelled speech. It is a form of moral coercion – ‘Publicly make the following statement or else we will prevent you from working’. This is not how Britain should behave. Pressuring public figures – or anyone, for that matter – to make a political statement, to engage in a public act of denunciation, is better suited to authoritarian regimes than to a nation like ours that fancies itself as free and liberal.

According to reports, the sports minister Nigel Huddleston is in talks with the All-England Lawn Tennis Club about how to deal with Russian players at Wimbledon.

Brendan O’Neill
Written by
Brendan O’Neill

Brendan O’Neill is Spiked's chief politics writer. His new book, After the Pogrom: 7 October, Israel and the Crisis of Civilisation, is out now.

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