With the crisis of the Ukraine invasion by Russia, many sanctions were put upon them when they threatened worldwide peace. FIFA disagreed with Russia’s forceful attempt and supported Ukraine, saying that violence is not the answer. They took action regarding all football matters soon after.
FIFA’S JUDGEMENT
Athletes and teams from Russia were kicked out of international competitions right away on Monday night.
Football governing bodies FIFA and UEFA came together in a very unusual way for them. Their collaboration has decided that:
[Russia was kicked out of this year’s World Cup in Qatar. Poland will play Sweden or the Czech Republic in a playoff final later this month, and the winner will compete with the winner of the other two.]
[People in Russia were going to be kicked out of the women’s European Championship that would be held this summer in England.]
[Spartak Moscow was expelled from the Europa League when RB Leipzig reached the quarter-finals. UEFA also ended a sponsorship deal worth £33.5 million a year with the Russian energy company Gazprom.]
[The International Olympic Committee said that all sports should follow suit, with the possible exception of the Winter Paralympics because of the closeness of the Games, which start Friday in Beijing. Russian domestic sport and leagues were allowed to continue.]
The statement was made by both FIFA and UEFA today: All Russian teams, whether they represent the country’s national team or are club teams, are suspended from playing in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice.
OTHER CONCERNS
‘Football is fully united and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both presidents of FIFA and UEFA hope the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace among people,’ said in a statement.
Monday’s stunning events followed an earlier display of leadership by the IOC, which recommended a global sports ban for Russian and Belarussian athletes and teams rather than allowing them to compete as neutrals.
The World Olympic Committee (IOC) claimed they were taking action to ensure the integrity of international sport in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Gianni Infantino’s ties to Vladimir Putin made FIFA hesitant to ban Russia from the World Cup. Still, on Sunday, they made it plain that the IOC would direct them and that the athletic world should be unified in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s military effort has been supported by Belarus, which allows its territory to station soldiers and conduct strikes. Belarusian athletes are also barred from competing.
Because of logistical challenges in withdrawing them at short notice, they may be allowed to compete as neutral competitors at the Winter Paralympics on Wednesday, when the International Paralympic Committee board will finally decide.
The IOC executive board advises that international sports federations and sports event organizers do not accept or allow Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to participate in international events,’ an IOC statement said.
Russia isn’t allowed to participate in the Women’s European Championships this summer due to this decision.
The IOC urges every sports federation and event organizer to do all in their power to guarantee that Russian and Belarusian citizens be only recognized as neutral athletes or neutral teams in cases where this is not practicable.
Flags and anthems from other countries should not be exhibited.’
While Russia can appeal against the penalties at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, where they won a reduction in flag and anthem bans after doping offenses from four years to two, other concerns remain.
FIFA GIVES THE FULL VERDICT
A suspension of all Russian teams, whether national representatives or club teams, from participating in FIFA and UEFA competitions has been agreed upon today by FIFA and UEFA. Following the initial decisions taken by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures.
The FIFA Council’s Bureau and UEFA’s Executive Committee, the two most potent decision-making bodies in their respective organizations, made their choices today.
Football in the Unified States is wholly united in its support for the people of Ukraine.
Soccer may once again be a means of bringing people together if the situation in Ukraine improves considerably and quickly, both Presidents believe.
This summer’s Women’s Euros in England will certainly be a no-go for Russia, who were scheduled to play Holland, Switzerland, and Sweden in their groups, and might have met England in the semi-finals.
After losing to Russia in the playoffs the year before, Portugal is widely anticipated to take their position.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that it would revoke Vladimir Putin’s Olympic Order, the highest honor bestowed by the Olympic movement, effective immediately.
The assets of influential Everton investor Alisher Usmanov, who is suspected of having links to Putin, were frozen by the EU. Everton’s training facility is sponsored by Uzbek billionaire Usmanov’s USM Holdings, while the women’s squad is sponsored by Megafon, another of Usmanov’s firms.
According to a statement from his spokesperson, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has traveled to Belarus to assist in the mediation of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
ANY OTHER STATEMENT
FIFA wants peace to be restored as soon as possible and for constructive talks to start immediately. Football Association of Ukraine and members of the Ukrainian football community who have asked for help to leave for as long as the current conflict continues. FIFA is in close contact with them and will help them if they need it.
