FIFA declared in a joint statement with UEFA, Russia has been debarred from the 2022 World Cup and its teams suspended from all International football tournaments ‘until further notice’ following its seizure of Ukraine.
The men’s team had been due to compete in qualifying play-offs in March for the World Cup in Qatar later this year, whilst its women’s squad had qualified for the European Championship in England, to be conducted in July.
The statement also hits Russian clubs involved in European tournaments.
“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,” Football’s Global and European governing bodies stated.
Russia were due to play against Poland in a World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final on March 24th, and could have go on to compete with Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29th for a spot at the finals.
However, their three possible competitors insisted they would boycott the games.
FIFA declared that Russian teams would be permitted to resume playing under the name of the ‘Football Union of Russia,’ competing in home matches on neutral territory and behind closed doors, and with the Russian anthem and flag disallowed.
Nonetheless, those measures were sacked as “totally unacceptable” by Cezary Kulesza, Polish FA president who appended that Poland would not play their World Cup play-off with Russia, “no matter what the name of the team is.”
FIFA modified its approach on Monday, throwing Russia out of the eye catcher tourney.
“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine,” the statement appended.
“Both presidents (Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Ceferin) 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.”
Russia were due to play facing the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland in their group at the women’s Euro.
Spartak Moscow had been due to play against RB Leipzig of Germany in the Europa League last 16 next month.
