UEFA, FIFA and the International Olympics Community have together decided to suspend Russia from the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. This was decided after days of protests which saw Poland refuse to play against them in their qualifiers due to their armed invasion of Ukraine.
The women’s football team is also set to be banned from the Euros to be held in England. Spartak Moscow, the only club side left in European competition, will also not be allowed to progress any further into the Europa League this season.
FIFA and UEFA announce strict sanctions against Russia
Here is what the two organisations said in a joint statement:
“Fifa and Uefa have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both Fifa and Uefa competitions until further notice.
“These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the Fifa Council and the Executive Committee of Uefa, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters. Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people.”
UEFA has also ended it’s partnership with Russian gas company Gazprom, which has been seen as the sponsor of the Champions League. Their decade long deal has now been terminated, and the final of the Champions League this year has also been shifted from St Petersburg to Paris.
