FIFA and UEFA jointly decided to suspend all Russian national teams and clubs to participate in the competitions of both until new noticewhich implies the exclusion of Russia from the World Cup in Qatar 2022for which he had to play the playoffs.
Are measures were adopted today by the FIFA Council Bureau and the UEFA Executive Committee, respectively, the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions in these urgent matters, before the invasion of Ukraine by Russia started on the 24th.
“Football is fully united and in full solidarity with all affected people in Ukraine. Both presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and quickly so that football can once again be a vector of unity and peace between peoples,” the two organizations said in a statement.
The joint resolution of FIFA and UEFA was made public after the recommendation made this Monday by the IOC to the federations and the organizers of competitions, so that “they do not invite or allow the participation of Russian or Belarusian athletes or leaders.”
the precedent of a similar sanction occurred the October 1, 1992, when FIFA announced the expulsion of Yugoslavia from the qualifying phase for the 1994 World Cup in the USA, as a consequence of the sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro imposed by the UN due to the Balkan conflict and that had previously left it out of Euro 92, in which Denmark, which took its place, was proclaimed champion.
The Russian team had yet to play the playoff to opt for one of the three European places that still remain for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. His first match was scheduled for March 24, against Poland at home.
In case of overcoming it, they had to face, again in their field, the winner of the duel between Sweden and the Czech Republic on March 29.
In the Europa League, the russian team Spartak Moscow qualified for the round of 16, in which he was paired with the German Leipzig, to play the next 10 and 17 March.
So far the federations of England, Albania, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Norway, Scotland, Switzerland, Sweden, France and Wales have announced that they will not face Russia in any competition and category.
The FIFA already announced on Sundayafter a meeting of the Bureau of his Council, a series of measures against Russia, among them that no international competition is held in its territory, in addition to vetoing its flag and its anthem.
According to these measures, Russia could only play under the name “Russian Football Union (RFU)” and its matches as a local team would be played on a neutral field and without an audience.
The recommendation made today by the IOC and already adopted by international federations of other sports, in addition to FIFA, aims to “protect the integrity of world sports competitions and the safety of all participants.”
The body maintained that its desire is “not to punish athletes for the decisions of their government if they don’t actively participate in them”, but added that “the current war in Ukraine puts the Olympic Movement in a dilemma”.
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“While athletes from Russia and Belarus could continue to participate in sports competitions, many Ukrainian athletes are prevented from doing so due to the attack on their country,” the IOC stressed.
On the 25th and after the entry of Russian troops into Ukraine, UEFA already decided that Saint Petersburg will not host the next Champions League final on May 28 and chose the Stade de France Saint-Denis in Paris as the new venue for the competition. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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