Mumbai: The Russian football team, On Monday, was suspended by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations(UEFA) after it attacked Ukraine.
Both organizations have suspended them from all international football competitions until further notice. The decision came after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The announcement also affects Russian clubs involved in European competitions.
European football’s governing body also ended its partnership with Russian energy giant Gazprom.
The men’s team had been due to play in qualifying play-offs in March for the World Cup in Qatar later this year, while its women’s side had qualified for the European Championship in England, to be held in July.
The Russian men’s team was scheduled to play Poland in a World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final on March 24 and might have faced Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 for a place at the finals in Qatar later this year.
FIFA announced on Sunday that Russian teams would be allowed to continue playing under the name of the Football Union of Russia, playing home games on neutral territory and behind closed doors, and with the Russian flag and anthem banned.
(Smit Soni)
