A question of honour – The Bermuda Bowl 2022 European Qualifiers
As you may know, the European qualifiers for the Bermuda Bowl 2022 are currently taking place 100% online due to the health situation. Italy, as the host country has already qualified. The event is scheduled to be held from March 27 to April 9 2022 in Salsomaggiore Terme.
All the same, an Italian team is lined up for the European qualifiers, which is largely considered a “B team” by those in the know. Nothing too controversial there you might think. Well, you’d be wrong, due to the inclusion of the controversial Fulvio Fantoni in the Italian team.
This man, infamous in the world of bridge, sadly made a name for himself through cheating. Should we be surprised that he’s in the Italian line-up? Apparently not. At least according to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) which overturned his convictions and according to the EBL who validated the teams for the European qualifications.
That could have been the end of the story you might think. History is littered with cheating scandals after all. Well no. This was not going to be the end of it. Indignation spread throughout the other teams in the competition, with players feeling their own honour was being compromised, along with the veracity of the competition. They were faced with a crisis of conscience. So, what to do?
Well, the Scottish team refused to play the Italian team on the first day of the qualifiers. A decision that resulted in a 12-0 defeat. The can of worms was well and truly opened. Wales, Slovenia, Lithuania, Ukraine and another 7 nations also refused to play Italy, with the same dire consequences for their ranking.
In the end, everyone will make up their own mind about the controversy. We’ll be sure to keep a close eye on how this all pans out. At Funbridge, we will certainly remember the courage of the players who have made qualification more difficult for themselves by sticking to their principles.
In particular, Scotland stands out as the first nation to raise its concerns, along with the great Norwegian player Brogeland and the German players Auken-Welland, all three of whom resigned from their respective teams in protest. Respect.
Team Funbridge
Well done to all of you that refused to play and stood up for integrity and honesty. There are a lot of things that can be done to improve not only the way bridge is played and directed but also the behaviour of people in general in all walks of life. Your actions can only help, well done again.
The post you have published is extremely outrageous.
The court acquitted F / N because it was not proven at all that they were cheating. The sentences must be respected.
The US has raged against this ruling.
It is evident that in this EBL competition there was a centralized organization in organizing the forfeit against ITALY so much in its ranking each nation did not lose anything. And therefore your incensing the individual players who have lent themselves to this ambush is ridiculous.
It was the lowest point of our sport that could be reached.
Everyone wants to keep people from cheating at the bridge table.
Too easy to hide behind this phrase to attack an entire nation and its federation.
Summary processes cannot and must be carried out in inappropriate locations. And here too you have done it instead.
Only a question.
Who decide Who Is the cheaters?.
No, nessun rispetto per chi presuntuosamente applica una sua giustizia, discutibile e soggettiva.
La Giustizia è sancita da organizzazioni e regole, e va rispettata.
Grandi giocatori (forse), ma piccoli uomini che non sanno cosa siano sport e fair play.
Nessun rispetto, ma solo pena per loro e per chi li rispetta, e magari li ammira.
Bravo Paolo!!!
Hasta en la Biblia se puede leer que cuando una ley es injusta no hay que obedecerla. Cuando los organismos internacionales están podridos hay que apartarse de ellos. Las trampas son las muerte de cualquier juego honorable.
Tutti d’accordo che se si bara si giunge alla morte del bridge.
Ma il punto è: chi decide chi bara ? … Una comunità ,una nazione …. Oppure un giudice di tribunale condiviso ?