FootballRussia is allowed to cross over the World Cup. FIFA and UEFA suspend the country after the invasion of Ukraine. The world football association, which previously had good relations with Russian President Putin, is collapsing under immense pressure from national football associations, including that of Belgium.
The exclusion of a prestigious stage such as the World Cup can count as a symbolic blow. In 2018, under the eyes of Vladimir Putin, Russia was still the proud World Cup host — it even made it to the quarter-finals. Russia was also present at the European Championship last year: in the group stage, the team lost no chance against the Red Devils.
In the decision to exclude Russia, FIFA in particular shifted up a gear. Only on Sunday the World Football Association had issued a much milder sanction: Russia was allowed to play the World Cup play-offs on neutral territory and without fans in March under the name ‘Football Federation of Russia’, without an anthem or national flag.
But that lukewarm response was followed by an avalanche of criticism. Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden, who were classified in Russia’s World Cup play-off group, ostentatiously announced that they would not play against Russia. In their wake, one European football association after another followed: the English FA announced that it would not play against any Russian team of any age group. The Belgian Football Association also supported a complete exclusion of Russia in solidarity.
On Monday evening, after consultation with UEFA, FIFA gave in to the immense pressure: both major associations announced the worldwide suspension. In addition to the deleted World Cup chance for Russia, the Russian women’s team is also missing at the European Championship in England next summer. Spartak Moscow can make a cross over its 1/8th finals of the Europa League against the German RB Leipzig, which will continue automatically.
Exit Gazprom
FIFA and UEFA are now in the dust after years of eager cooperation with Russia’s despotic regime under President Putin. Like ex-FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, current chairman Gianni Infantino maintained close ties with Putin, who gladly invited him to the Kremlin. When the allocation of the World Cup to Russia came under pressure due to the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and possible corruption in the vote, FIFA ostentatiously rallied behind the country. Within UEFA, Russia had developed a major interrelationship via the state concern Gazprom as the main sponsor of the Champions League. UEFA is now blowing up that million-dollar deal.
The Russian Football Federation RFS, meanwhile, strongly criticized the suspension by FIFA and UEFA. “They are discriminatory measures. This decision is contrary to the norms and principles of international competition, as well as to the spirit of the sport. She harms a large number of athletes, coaches, employees and, above all, millions of Russian and foreign fans. Such actions only cause division. It is our right to challenge this decision legally.”
Also Belarus
Banning Russia goes much further than football: the war country is declared a pariah on almost the entire international sports scene. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) advised sports federations worldwide not to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus — which under dictator Alexander Lukashenko as a neighboring country facilitates the war against Ukraine — participate in events. The organization of the EuroLeague and the EuroCup in basketball already responded to the call and threw CSKA Moscow, Zenit, Unics Kazan and Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar out of competition.
The decision to ban Russian athletes from the Paralympic Games, which start Friday in China, had not yet been officially made on Monday. The International Paralympic Committee will discuss the matter on Wednesday.
FIFA Media
@fifamedia
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