Russian national team football player denied boarding on Czech flight

Russian FC Zenit defender Vyacheslav Karavayev, a member of the Russia national team, faced unexpected challenges while trying to enter the Czech Republic, he told Sport24.ru in an interview published on Aug. 4.

Karavayev said he had purchased a ticket for a flight from Istanbul, Turkey, to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, but he was unable to board the plane. He was informed that the Czech city does not admit citizens with Russian passports.

The 28-year-old footballer had to make his way to Prague through Austria and travel by car.

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“We had been waiting for six hours during the layover, and when we approached the (airport) gate, we were told that the Czech authorities don't allow entry for individuals with Russian passports,” he said.

“We had to urgently change our plans and buy tickets to Vienna — Austria let us in without any issues. Martin Jiránek (a former Czech international footballer) met us there — he had specifically traveled from Czechia to pick us up. In the end, it took us another three hours to reach Prague by car,” Karavayev said in the interview.

According to SchengenVisaInfo.com, the Czech Republic’s authorities announced that as of Oct. 25, 2022, the country would no longer permit entry to citizens of Russia who wish to reach the country for tourism, sport, and cultural purposes.

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