The world football bodies have finally buckled under heavy pressure to show some resolve after having dilly-dallied with just an initial offering of a smattering of sanctions against Russia that had met with intense opposition from various international quarters.
Less than 24 hours after a set of ‘soft’ sanctions had been announced against the Russian national team and the country’s clubs, FIFA, together with UEFA, have finally submitted to overwhelming pressure from the international football community, outraged fans and media and officially suspended all teams from the country from participation in their competitions “until further notice”.
A joint statement officially issued by FIFA and UEFA read:
“These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters.
“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.”
This comprises a joint statement that is in effect a face-saver for FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino and one commiserating a rare moment of solidarity with his UEFA counterpart Aleksander Ceferin. The former had been facing censure for his lack of leadership in failing to condemn the actions of Russian president Vladimir Putin over the deplorable Russia-Ukraine crisis. Incidentally, the Russian head of state had previously awarded Infantino an Order of Friendship medal.
The latest official ban essentially means that Russia will not continue in the play-offs for 2022 World Cup qualification, its women’s team will not compete at the upcoming Euro2022 championship in England this summer, and Spartak Moscow will not continue in the Europa League.
FIFA had been swimming against the current surge of global and public opinion after a weekend of galvanised, rousing fan support at league matches across Europe for the Ukrainian struggle against the Russian invasion with equivocal player declarations of support for their Ukrainian colleagues. Numerous clubs and national associations have also been calling for action.
Amid growing pressure arising also from European nations and the International Olympic Committee, FIFA and UEFA confirmed Monday that Russia would have no involvement in the upcoming World Cup playoffs as Russia had been scheduled to play Poland. As such, the Russia women’s team would also be removed from the European Championships due to be staged in England in July. Accordingly, Spartak Moscow have also been removed from the Europa League, meaning round of 16 opponent RB Leipzig will be handed a bye to the quarterfinals of the competition.
In a further move, UEFA confirmed that it was canceling its €40 million a year deal with its Russian energy company sponsor Gazprom.
Decisions by FIFA and UEFA can typically be challenged on appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. The Football Union of Russia said in a statement that it would “reserve the right to challenge” the decision.
“I feel sorry for my boys,” said Russia coach Valery Karpin. “They were dreaming about playing at the World Cup. Now their hope is gone.”
And what about the hopes of an entire Ukrainian nation under invasion?