The Russian Football Union stated it will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to plead against its prohibition from International competitions following the country’s seizure of Ukraine.
On Monday, Russian football clubs and national teams were debarred from all tournaments ‘until further notice’ by FIFA and UEFA.
The union stated it would sue against football’s world and European governing bodies, demanding Russia’s men’s and women’s national teams be permitted to participate.
The union also stated it could ask for the deferral of competitions they were scheduled to take part in, if unsuccessful.
The union voices they will seek ‘compensation for damage,’ as actions taken against them ‘violated the fundamental rights of the RFU as a member of FIFA and UEFA.’
Russia wants its national teams to be brought back to play their men’s World Cup play-off games next month and the women’s team once again counted in this summer’s Euro 2022 tourney in England.
Russian football authorities stated, “If FIFA and UEFA refuse such a procedure, a requirement will be put forward for the introduction of interim measures in the form of suspension of FIFA and UEFA decisions, as well as competitions in which Russian teams were supposed to participate.”
The statement appended, “It believes that FIFA and UEFA did not have a legal basis when deciding on the removal of Russian teams. The Russian Football Union was also not given the right to present its position, which violated the fundamental right to defence. In addition, when making decisions, FIFA and UEFA did not take into account other possible options for action, except for the complete exclusion of participants from the competition from Russia.”
FIFA and UEFA interfered after Russia, defended by Belarus, launched a military seizure of neighbouring Ukraine.
Russian club Spartak Moscow were also sacked of the Europa League and their last-16 competitors RB Leipzig will progress to the quarter-finals.
The 2022 Champions League final, which was due to be played in St Petersburg on 28th of May, has also been rescheduled to Paris.
