FIFA And UEFA Announce Russian National Teams And Clubs Will Be Suspended From Competition Until Further Notice

FIFA and UEFA have announced all Russia national teams and clubs have been suspended from competing until further notice.

Russia president Vladimir Putin recently engineered a full-scale invasion of the Ukraine and a host of countries have refused to play the Eastern European country at any level.

Poland announced a boycott for the World Cup play-off fixture on 24 March, while the FA said England would not participate in any international football against Russia in the "foreseeable future".

Sweden and Czech Republic, who could have played Russia in the final play-off, had refused to play if Valeri Kerpin's side went through.

France called for Russia, the hosts in 2018, to be expelled from the World Cup later this year.

Initially FIFA did not issue an official ban but said Russia would have to play their World Cup qualifier as 'Football Union of Russia' with different kits, a new crest, without national anthems and not on home soil.

But after monumental backlash, the world football governing body held lengthy talks and have now issued a suspension.

It mean Russia are effectively out of the men's World Cup in Qatar, as well as the women's Euro 2022 in England, barring a serious change in the next month.

A statement from FIFA read: "Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, 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."

Meanwhile UEFA have also announced their partnership with Gazprom effective immediately.

The Russian gas giant were a sponsor for the Champions League and other international competitions.

Featured Image Credit: Image: PA

Topics: Russia, FIFA, Football World Cup

Josh Lawless

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