FIFA and UEFA suspend Russia from playing international football indefinitely

The Russian men’s team, which reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2018, was due to host Poland in qualifying on March 24. Had he won, he would have faced Sweden or the Czech Republic five days later for a place in the tournament this fall in Qatar. The three teams announced over the weekend that they would boycott matches against Russia.

The suspension also affects the Russian women’s team – which was due to play in this summer’s European Championship in England – and Spartak Moscow, the men’s team that has advanced to the Europa League round of 16, the continent’s second most important team. club competition.

UEFA had already moved the Champions League final on May 28, the biggest club match in the world, from St Petersburg to the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.

European football authorities also announced that they had canceled their partnership with the Russian state’s majority-owned natural gas giant Gazprom. The company has sponsored the Champions League for many years, and this year the title game was scheduled to be played at Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg.

“Football is completely united here and in complete solidarity with all affected people in Ukraine,” A statement by FIFA and UEFA said:. “Both Chiefs [of the governing bodies] I hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve dramatically and quickly so that football will once again become a driving force for unity and peace among people. ”

The Russian Football Federation, the country’s governing body, said in the current situation “This decision is against the rules and principles of international competition as well as the spirit of sport. … Such actions divide the global sports community, which has always adhered to the principles of equality, mutual respect, and independence from politics. We reserve the right to appeal the decision of FIFA and UEFA in accordance with international sports law.”

The move for FIFA and UEFA comes a day after FIFA announced Initial measures To punish Russia, including banning Russia’s use of its name, flag and national anthem. Matches were scheduled to be played at home at neutral venues without spectators.

The teams had to compete under the name “Football Federation of Russia”, similar to the way athletes competed at the Tokyo and Beijing Olympics as the “Russian Olympic Committee” as punishment for State approved doping program.

This decision by FIFA and UEFA is consistent with the International Olympic Committee Monday recommendation Federations and organizations should not allow or invite Russian or Belarusian athletes or officials to participate in events. Belarus was a springboard for the Russian offensive, and is said to be sending troops into Ukraine to support Russian forces.

in the current situationThe IOC said it was acting “to protect the integrity of world sporting competitions and the safety of all participants.” The IOC stopped imposing a total ban and neither country commented.

Also, the NHL announced that it will suspend its relations with business partners in Russia and temporarily suspend Russian-language social and digital media sites. The association said it would stop any consideration of Russia as a location for any future matches.

The World Curling Federation said it is start process Eliminate the Russians from the upcoming world championships.

Ukrainian tennis fans Elena Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk took to social media on Monday to appeal to the tennis authorities for action. As of late Monday, neither the WTA nor the ATP issued a statement about any changes to scheduled events in Russia or the presentation of Russian flags and athletes.

On Saturday, the International Tennis Federation, which organizes junior tournaments for young professionals, announced that it was postponing a men’s event scheduled for April in Ukraine due to “increased safety concerns” and suspending all 2022 tournaments scheduled in Russia and Belarus.

on appeal Posted on Monday on Twitterthe 15th seed Svitolina wrote: “I believe that the current situation requires a clear position from our organizations: ATP, WTA and ITF. As such, we – the Ukrainian players – have asked the ATP, WTA and ITF to follow the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee To accept only Russian or Belarusian citizens as neutral players, without displaying any symbols, colors, flags or national anthems.”

Svitolina added that she would refuse to face her Russian opponent Anastasia Potapova in a match scheduled for Tuesday at the Monterrey Open as well as any other opponent from Russia or Belarus, if this is not possible. Joining Svitolina, 27, in her appeal, the 54-ranked Kostyuk, a 19-year-old native of Kyiv who has called on the WTA to withdraw all events from Russia and condemn the government’s actions.

However, the ban on the men’s national football team is the biggest direct blow to Russian sports. When the 2018 World Cup was held in Russia, the team defied the odds by advancing to the quarter-finals before losing to Croatia on penalties. Rank No. 35 In the world by FIFA, up from No. 70 prior to the 2018 tournament. Women’s team ranking No. 25He has not qualified for the World Cup since 2003 and has not been eliminated from the group stage of the European Championship.

This is not the first time that FIFA has taken action against the men’s national team for political reasons. Prior to the 1994 World Cup, the Yugoslav Federation was suspended from World Cup qualifiers after the United Nations imposed sanctions on the country over the Bosnian War.

The NFL denounced the invasion, saying it would not “distort our global game” by taking over the same field as Russia until there was peace in Ukraine. (There are no matches between the US men’s and women’s teams against Russian opponents.)

At club level, Manchester United Sponsorship deal completed With Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline, and German club Schalke 04, it canceled its partnership with Gazprom, its main sponsor, by removing the company’s logo from its T-shirts.

Liz Clark contributed to this report.