Digital Desk: FIFA, the world's football governing body, has expelled Russia from competing in the World Cup owing to their invasion of Ukraine.
Furthermore, FIFA and UEFA, the governing body of European football, have determined that all Russian teams would be barred from participating in European events such as the UEFA Champions League until further notice. Spartak Moscow, the only Russian team currently competing in European tournaments, has been automatically removed from the UEFA Europa League due to UEFA and FIFA's decision.
This is a stark contrast to FIFA's modest punishments issued on Sunday, when Russian missiles bombed ukrainian cities.
FIFA has ruled that the national team would no longer be allowed to use the Russian flag or anthem and will instead play under the name of its football body, the Football Union of Russia (RFU).
Furthermore, Russia's national team will be barred from playing any games on home soil, with all home games scheduled to be played at neutral grounds. Stadiums in pro-Russian countries like Belarus and Serbia have been proposed as options.
FIFA's first decision not to sanction the Russian squad was quickly criticised by fans, footballers, and football associations from other countries, who have already announced a boycott of upcoming matches against the Russians. FIFA was also chastised for failing to include Belarus, which has openly helped Russia in the conflict.
Prior to FIFA's announcement, dozens of football associations around Europe, most notably the English, Polish, Irish, and Czech, indicated that they will not play any matches against the Russian national side.
Russia is set to face Poland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic in a World Cup Qualifying play-off in March, before of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, due to the football organisations of the three nations all proclaiming a boycott of matches against Russia, it is more doubtful that these matches will be played regardless of FIFA's ruling.
The EuroLeague has also confirmed the suspension of all three Russian clubs competing in the league (CSKA Moscow, UNICS Kazan, and Zenit St. Petersburg), as well as one team competing in the EuroCup (Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar).
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