FIFA & UEFA Make a Stand for Ukraine

All Russian teams — club and national — have been banned indefinitely by FIFA and UEFA following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Monday’s announcement comes just one day after FIFA revealed initial measures including no competitions in Russia, member associations playing under the name “Football Union of Russia” not “Russia,” and no Russian flags or anthems at matches.

• The original decision brought heavy criticism from Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Poland — the team slated to face Russia in a World Cup playoff semifinal next month. The winner would take on one of the former two teams, but all three have refused to face Russia.
• Federations in France, the U.S., and England said they wouldn’t play the country.

The updated suspension removes the possibility of Russia’s appearance in the 2022 World Cup, which has a budget of $700 million. The overall winner will receive $62 million.

It is not clear if Poland will receive a bye.

Governing Bodies’ Goals

The IOC suggested on Monday that Russian and Belarussian athletes and officials be excluded from international events. The Ukrainian ministry of sport also called on international bodies to do the same, but didn’t include Belarussian athletes or teams.

In a joint statement, the presidents of FIFA and UEFA expressed that they “hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly” so that soccer can be “a vector for unity and peace amongst people.”