Russia banned by FIFA & UEFA
FIFA and UEFA have banned Russia as a result of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
The ban effectively means that Russia has been kicked out of December’s World Cup in Qatar, with Russia originally due to meet Poland in the World Cup qualifying playoffs next month.
Russia has also been banned from the Women’s Euros this summer.
Club sides have also been banned from competing in any UEFA or FIFA sanctioned competitions, with Spartak Moscow’s Europa League knockout tie against Red Bull Leipzig now not going ahead as planned.
“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people,” a joint FIFA-UEFA statement said.
A number of national teams, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, had previously said that they would refuse to play against Russia at any level.
