FIFA and UEFA suspend all Russian clubs and national teams amid Ukraine conflict
- Planet Sport writer
- 28 February 2022
Russia have been expelled from the World Cup as FIFA and UEFA suspend the country’s clubs and national teams from all competitions.
Continental bosses UEFA and global governors FIFA have made the joint decision on a temporary expulsion for Russia from all club and national fixtures amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The suspension means that the country won't take on Poland in next month's World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final.
There are also repercussions for the Russian women's national team who won't be able to compete in this summer's European Championships, and Spartak Moscow who have been kicked out of the Europa League.
A joint UEFA and FIFA statement confirmed the move, that will further isolate Russia's sporting situation amid the invasion of Ukraine.
"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," read the statement.
"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."
Earlier in the day, the International Olympic Committee's executive board provided a recommendation to international sports federations to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from international competitions.
This gave FIFA the green light to move ahead with their suspension of Russia.
FIFA had faced criticism over its initial decision on Sunday night to allow Russia to continue to compete in the men's World Cup play-offs, but on neutral territory and under the Football Union of Russia banner.
UEFA have also decided to end its sponsorship agreement with Russian energy firm Gazprom. German club Schalke announced the premature end of its deal with the same company earlier on Monday.
