FIFA and UEFA have officially announced that Russian clubs and the national team have been suspended from their competitions.
The news comes following talks between the Bureau of the FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA, with many fans and pundits previously expressing anger at the initial measures. Sanctions are being laid against Russia following their recent invasion of Ukraine.
The reason for the decision can be found in the statement, where they note that “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.”
The announcement means that Spartak Moscow will be forced to drop out of the Europa League and the Russian national team will no longer be competing in the upcoming 2022 World Cup play-offs.
Things were initially kicked off by the Polish FA last week after they refused to play Russia in the play-off tie. Sweden and the Czech Republic, the other two teams in that play-off bracket, followed the Polish decision, putting significant pressure on FIFA.
UEFA have already changed the location of the Champions League final, which was originally due to be held in St Petersburg before UEFA instead moved it to Paris.
FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions
▶️ https://t.co/Q2htzW3W9z pic.twitter.com/LFo1bUtqmm
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) February 28, 2022
Good job Poland! This decision should have been made a lot sooner.
Finally Fifa has some braincells left
Fifa was late to make that call, and their first proposal was an absolute joke. FIFA keeps proving they are the devil.
Much 💙 to Ruslan Malinovskiy 🇺🇦 and Alexei Miranchuk too. It can’t be easy having to live with a myopic leader taking an action like that?!
Fifa bans now it’s a popular decision. But it shows we can create a positive change.
It’s still just a nice gesture though. Some “leaders” think they’re above any accountability. And they use politics to trample all over the “free” will of common folk!
As many of us who can become conscious + aware in these time’s, will be needed, if we are to unite + make peace. It’s the only way to stop all the wars, control + suppression! Sorry to bring politics into football but some thing’s need to be said!
It should happen to Israel too who had invasion of Palestine….
Hope they will suspend Israel too for what they did to Palestine and Golan Height. And don’t forget about US for what they did at Iraq for non existense weapon.
So will Poland have a bye? Or will play against other team?
The World Cup should be cancelled. Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, certain NATO nations and the US should all be banned for their current aggression and war crimes. Covid is still devastating the planet. And Qatar built the world cup stadiums on a mountain and migrant labour corpses. Unity and peace… yeah right.
I think if they went only in Donetsk and Luhansk things would have been different
I hope all this public outcry and sympathy will be accorded to Palestinians and any other victim of American and British aggression when the time comes….