Russia, which invaded Ukraine last month, was eventually expelled from this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
FIFA has announced that “until further notice, the Russian national team and club teams are banned from participating in FIFA-sponsored competitions”.
As a result of this joint action with the European Football Federation (UEFA), the Russian national team or Russian club team will be banned from participating in international competitions in the future.
FIFA yesterday (28th) took responsibility for the invasion of Ukraine and imposed a ban on the Russian national team from holding international competitions and bans on the use of national flags and national names in international matches.
However, it did not prohibit participation in the game itself, which caused a backlash from some countries, including Europe, and after one day, Russia’s national team and club teams were banned from participating in international competitions through additional disciplinary action.
“Fifa expresses its strong solidarity with those affected by this crisis in Ukraine so that football can contribute to world peace,” FIFA added.
As a result of this ban, Russia will not be able to participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar European Qualifiers scheduled for the 24th of this month.
Russia was scheduled to play a play-off match against Poland on the 24th, and if they win, Sweden and Czech Republic will face off against the winner of the World Cup, which will start in Qatar this November.
It is the first time in 28 years that FIFA has banned member countries from participating in the World Cup for political reasons since Yugoslavia, which was sanctioned by the United Nations during the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Prior to this, South Africa was banned from competing in FIFA in 1964 and 1976 due to racial discrimination.
Poland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic, who may or may face Russia in this year’s World Cup qualifiers, have already made clear that they will not play against Russia.
Russia will also not be able to participate in the UEFA Women’s Championship to be held in England in July unless circumstances change, and Spartak Moscow, who advanced to the Europa League round of 16 UEFA club competition, will also be disqualified.
UEFA has also decided to suspend its sponsorship contract with Russian energy company Gazprom, worth €40 million a year, until 2024.
Last month, UEFA changed the venue for this year’s Champions League final from Saint Petersburg, Russia, to Paris, France.
The Associated Press reported, “The Russian Football Association can file a complaint with the International Court of Arbitration (CAS) for the disciplinary action against FIFA and UEFA,” said Valery Carpin of Russian football. I conveyed the words of the national team coach.
(Photo = provided by FIFA, Yonhap News)
