FIFA and UEFA have decided to suspend all teams from Russia, international or domestic, from their competitions until further notice with immediate effect after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“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 said.
As a result of their immediate suspension, Russia will not play its World Cup qualifying playoff against Poland next month putting their World Cup hopes in jeopardy.
Russia were due to play Poland in a World Cup qualifying playoff semifinal on March 24 and could have gone on to face Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 for a place at the finals.
Poland’s Robert Lewandowski had earlier voiced his concerns about the fixture and called for it to be canceled before UEFA’s verdict.
He openly stated that if FIFA and UEFA did not suspend Russia, Poland will refuse to play them.
England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland were also among the countries who also refused to play Russia due to the ongoing crisis.
The suspension applies to all European domestic cups as well. As a result, Spartak Moscow will not be allowed to face RB Leipzig in the Europa League.
The English FA has also urged UEFA and FIFA to ban Russia from the upcoming men’s World Cup and Women’s Euros.
FIFA announced on Sunday that Russia would play matches under the name the “Football Union of Russia” which led to anger among European football authorities who felt these measures were inadequate.
UEFA also announced its end to the sponsorship with Russian energy giant Gazprom.
