FIFA has reversed its decision and barred all Russian teams from competing in international competitions, such as the 2022 Qatar World Cup later this year. The ruling board of European football, UEFA, has soon followed, prohibiting Russian participation in club and international events. UEFA has also terminated relations with Russian state energy behemoth Gazprom, one of its primary sponsors.
The verdict came just hours after FIFA granted Russia the right to compete in the 2022 World Cup playoffs, or any tournament, on the condition that they use the name Football Union of Russia (RFU).
The recent FIFA statement
Following Russia’s assault of Ukraine, the nation was quickly cut off from international sports. “In accordance with the previous decisions of the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which also envisaged additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have today decided jointly that all Russian teams, including national representative teams and club teams, shall be suspended from competitions undertaken by FIFA and UEFA until further notice,” in accordance to a press release issued by FIFA on Monday evening.
What does this signify for Russia’s national football team?
This practically disqualifies them from competing in the 2022 World Cup. Russia is scheduled to meet Poland in a World Cup playoff game on March 24. However, Poland had previously rejected to play Russia. It is yet to be determined if Poland will be handed a bye to the playoff final.
Spartak Moscow is among Russia’s most famous football clubs and is also eliminated from UEFA’s Europa League as a result of this.
What was FIFA’s immediate reaction?
Football’s governing body issued a statement on Monday morning stating that “no international matches will be held on Russian territory, with home games being played on neutral location and without spectators.” In addition, FIFA also ordered that Russian associations should participate in any match under the name of the Football Union of Russia (RFU) and not “Russia.” The Russian flag and national anthem were also banned.
What were Russia’s opponents’ reactions to FIFA’s initial statement?
The comment, it appears, did not go over well with Russia’s World Cup competitors. After the announcement, Cezary Kulesza, president of the Polish Football Association, posted on Twitter: “FIFA’s recent decision is intolerable to us.” We are not invested in a game of appearances in the midst of a conflict in Ukraine. Our attitude remains intact: the Polish national football team will not face Russia in the playoff game, regardless of the Russian side’s name.”
Poland’s soccer federation also stated that they did not see any way that the Polish national team could compete with the Russian national team in the playoff matches for promotion to Qatar in 2022, regardless of whether the team consisted of Russian players or where the match was held.”
How many nations have spoken out?
Czech Republic, Poland, and Sweden have previously declined to have a match with Russia in support of Ukraine. The English Football Federation put out a statement on Sunday reaffirming its decision to boycott Russia. “In support of Ukraine and to unequivocally condemn the violence perpetrated by Russia’s government, The FA can declare that we will not play versus Russia in any international games for the coming years.” This covers any prospective senior, age group, or para football match.” Scotland has also rejected Russia.
Could the 2022 World Cup have been endangered as a result of this?
The World Cup is set to begin on November 21, which is still nearly nine months away. However, the string of denials and FIFA’s initial hesitancy may have resulted in a big problem. Poland was scheduled to play against Russia in the playoffs on March 24, with the winner advancing to the playoffs against the Czech Republic or Sweden. If the three nations withdraw, Russia may be handed a free pass to the World Cup finals in Qatar. This might have unintentionally opened a legal Pandora’s box.
What motivated FIFA to reconsider its decision?
With the game’s regulating body experiencing worldwide criticism for taking a half-and-half approach, it appears to be a chance of losing some of its most important commercial partners, particularly some of the American multinational conglomerates.
What were UEFA’s previous bans?
This season’s Champions League finale will be played at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, rather than Saint Petersburg, as has been the case in recent seasons. “Following today’s UEFA Executive Committee meeting, the UEFA Executive Committee decided that until further notice, Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams playing in UEFA competitions must play their home matches at neutral sites,” stated a press statement.
How have sports organizations responded to human rights concerns?
FIFA and UEFA have put their foot down today. In addition, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has advised that Russian and Belarussian athletes and officials not compete.
Sports bodies, on the other hand, have generally permitted sports cleaning. For example, the IOC permitted 335 Russian athletes to compete at the Tokyo Olympics without using their country’s name, flag, or anthem, and under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). This was despite the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) barring Russia from competing in international tournaments for four years.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) head, Thomas Bach, attended the recent Beijing Winter Olympics, applauding China even for hosting the Games. However, Fifa granted Qatar the World Cup in 2022 without attaching any labor rights stipulations.
The Premier League and the officials in England approved the acquisition of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), a business controlled by the country’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to a US intelligence report released this year, the Saudi Crown Prince authorized the murder of expatriate Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
On Saturday, Chelsea’s Russian investor Roman Abramovich stated in a club statement that he was handing over “stewardship and care of Chelsea FC” to “trustees of Chelsea’s charity Foundation.” Nevertheless, the Premier League has received “no official application that would see Chelsea’s administration fundamentally modified,” according to a Telegraph (London) story.
