Russia-Ukraine Tension: FIFA And UEFA Ban All Russian Clubs And National Teams

Russian football clubs and public brigades have been suspended from all competitions by Fifa and Uefa after the country’s irruption of Ukraine.

The world and European football governing bodies said they would be banned “ until farther notice”.

It means the Russian men’s platoon won’t play their World Cup play-off matches coming month and the women’s platoon have been banned from this summer’s Euro 2022 competition.

Spartak Moscow have also been demurred out of the Europa League and their last-16 opponents RB Leipzig will advance to the quarter- tests.

Uefa has also ended its backing with Russian energy mammoth Gazprom.

“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine,” Fifa and Uefa said in a joint statement.

“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.”

Fifa and Uefa decided to take action after Russia, supported by Belarus, launched a military irruption of neighbouring Ukraine last Thursday.

The Russian men’s platoon had been listed to face Poland in a World Cup play-offsemi-final on 24 March.

Fifa had preliminarily ruled that Russia must complete their forthcoming games in neutral home, under the title Football Union of Russia, and without their flag and hymn.

The 2022 Champions League final, originally due to be played in St Petersburg on 28 May, has been moved to Paris while numerous clubs have taken their own steps to disassociate themselves from Russia.

Speaking on Monday, Tottenham manager Antonio Conte said: “The whole world has to be compact and show [it is] solid against the stupidity of the people.”

He added: “I think it’s right to express our disappointment about the stupidity about some decisions. Football and Uefa has to be compact and to show to be strong.”