Russia’s men’s national team had been scheduled to play in World Cup qualifying playoffs in just three weeks’ time.
“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine,” FIFA and UEFA said in a joint statement.
UEFA also took the last remaining Russians in European club competitions this season, Spartak Moscow, out of the second-tier Europa League. Spartak’s scheduled opponent on March 10 and 17, Leipzig of Germany, advances directly to the quarterfinals, UEFA said. Decisions by FIFA and UEFA can typically be challenged on appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. The Football Union of Russia said in a statement that it would “reserve the right to challenge” the decision.
The IOC also went directly after President Vladimir Putin, who turned the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics into a personal project. Putin’s golden Olympic Order, which was awarded in 2001, has been withdrawn, the IOC said in a statement. Where exclusion was “not possible on short notice for organizational or legal reasons,” then teams from Russia and Belarus should compete as neutral athletes with no national flag, anthem or symbols, including at the upcoming Winter Paralympics in Beijing, the IOC said.
In the World Cup, Russia’s potential future opponents Sweden and the Czech Republic had joined Poland saying they would refuse to take the field. The World Cup is scheduled to begin Nov. 21 in Qatar.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FIFA says no World Cup qualifying ban yet; Russia to play as RFUFIFA backed away from immediately expelling Russia from World Cup qualifying on Sunday but said it remained an option, deciding instead the squad can play using the “RFU” acronym for the country’s football federation.
Read more »
Czech Republic joins Poland, Sweden in refusing to play Russia in 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffThe Czech Republic joined Poland and Sweden in refusing to play Russia in the World Cup qualifying in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Read more »
FIFA set to suspend Russia from football, 2022 World Cup: reportAn official announcement of the temporary ban could come as soon as Monday and is part of several other recent sports-related decisions against Russia.
Read more »
FIFA Bans Russia From World Cup After Country Invades, Attacks UkraineFIFA has reversed course and will now BAN Russia from the 2022 World Cup ... after Putin's military forces invaded Ukraine.
Read more »
World Cup Organizers Suspend Russia From Top Soccer CompetitionsRussia faces a competition ban 'until further notice' from world and European soccer governing bodies FIFA and UEFA after its invasion of Ukraine.
Read more »
FIFA Suspends Russia From World Cup, International CompetitionsSoccer’s governing bodies announced that Russian national teams and clubs have been suspended from all competitions, including the upcoming 2022 World Cup.
Read more »