This means, among other things, that the Russian selection cannot take part in the World Cup play-off at the end of March. In addition, RB Leipzig is in the quarter-finals of the Europa League because Spartak Moscow would have been the round of 16 opponent.
In addition, UEFA announced that cooperation with Gazprom will be terminated with immediate effect. The Russian oil company has been paying 40 million euros a year to UEFA since 2012. The decision affects all existing contracts, including the Champions League, national team competitions and EURO 2024 in Germany, it said.
The decisions were the logical consequence after the International Olympic Committee had previously recommended all world federations and organizers of sporting events not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to take part in international competitions.
“Football is united here and in full solidarity with all affected people in Ukraine. Both presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and quickly, so that football can once again be a factor for unity and peace between people “said the joint statement from FIFA and UEFA.
The decisions were preceded by numerous boycott threats from national associations. A few hours before the FIFA and UEFA decision, the football associations of Denmark, Norway and Switzerland announced that they no longer wanted to play against Russia for the time being.
Earlier, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic announced that they would not play Russia in the World Cup qualifying play-offs. Poland were drawn as opponents of Russia in the play-off semifinals and should have played in Moscow at the end of March. Poland now have home advantage as winners without a fight against the winner of the Sweden-Czech Republic match.
Source: Nachrichten
