UEFA Decision on Russia Withstands Judicial Review

The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld UEFA’s ban on all Russian club and national teams on Tuesday following an appeal from the Russian soccer federation. 

FIFA, which also placed a ban on Russia’s teams after the country’s invasion of Ukraine, has not yet been granted a verdict by CAS on a separate appeal. The ruling reportedly could be decided this week. 

• Russia was scheduled to play in the World Cup qualifiers against Poland on March 24.
• Poland was granted a bye from FIFA, as the Polish soccer federation refused to take the field against Russia. CAS said the ruling over Russia’s other FIFA appeal to give Poland a bye is also “likely to be issued at the end of this week.”

Russia’s appeal included naming the soccer federations of Belarus, England, France, Portugal, and Spain — all its future opponents — as active parties.

The decision to uphold the ban for UEFA is an interim ruling. A full appeal hearing is expected to take place in the upcoming weeks. 

Soccer Sanctions

UEFA and FIFA also announced in late February that Spartak Moscow would be removed from the Europa League. The Russian women’s team, which qualified for Euro 2022, is currently barred from playing, but legal cases are expected to be resolved before the event begins on July 6.