Thomas Heurtel: 'I don't take money from dead Ukrainians' / News - Basketnews.com

Heurtel denied the notion that he supports Russia's war in Ukraine by playing there and even pushed back against the L'Equipe journalist directly.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Thomas Heurtel has been banned from playing for the French national team ever since he made a choice to play in Russia last year. In a lengthy interview with Jean-Christophe Collin from L'Equipe, the guard decided to push back.

Thomas Heurtel

Position:PG, SGAge:33Height:188 cmWeight:91 kgBirth place:FranceProfileNewsStatistics

"I have to think of myself first. Afterwards, it's always an honor to wear the France team jersey but I think of all of my family, my future, and my children first. If it's better to stay here for economic and basketball reasons, I will stay here," Heurtel said. "And if I have nothing else, what do I do?"

"Let's get the maximum for the future. I think that everyone would have done the same in my situation. Of course, it bothers me not to be on the French national team. Especially after the EuroBasket with the project that we had with the coach [Vincent Collet]. This situation makes me sad, and being criticized every day by people who don't necessarily know the situation is not pleasant," he said.

Confronted that he plays for a club from the country that kills and bombs innocent Ukrainian people daily, Heurtel had his own answer.

"What does this have to do with my situation? OK, they do that. But that doesn't mean I endorse what they do. Here, I don't know anyone who is for this war," the player said. "If we take this logic, we cannot play in China or in Israel. So if we take this logic, we should apply it to everyone, not just me."

"What does it have to do with me and what the Russian government is doing? Does that mean that because I play in Russia I endorse what Russia is doing? So people who play in China endorse China's human rights policies? Do people who play in France accept everything the French government does? I do not think so," Heurtel pushed back.

When the journalist did not let Heurtel slide, the guard decided to address Collin directly.

"You are a French journalist, you do not, however, endorse everything that [President Emmanuel] Macron does. And yet you work in France, you earn French money," he said.

"I don't take money from people who kill," Heurtel later added.

Presented with the fact that he plays for the club that is owned by the largest Russian gas company that directly sponsors Russia in Ukraine, Heurtel changed his tone a bit but did not completely alter the tune.

"I don't take money from dead Ukrainians. Maybe I'm part of the system because I play for this club but that doesn't mean I'm okay with what they're doing," he said.

"It doesn't work that way. Sorry to tell you this but that's what the losers think. [They're] all these people who don't have the opportunity to be in my place, to earn what I earn. It's fine to say 'In his place, I wouldn't have come to Russia, you have to think of the children, of the people who are dying' on social media," Heurtel revealed his thoughts. "It's hypocrisy, people don't put themselves in the place of others."

In the end, the player did not deny that he could come back and play outside of Russia.

"I earn two to three times more than in another European club. I play 25 to 30 minutes per game, I can flourish basketball-wise, and I have a coach who trusts me 100%.

Why would I refuse? If there is a club next year that trusts me the same way and has a project that is even a little less well-paid, I will go," Heurtel concluded.

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