The Russian Football Federation (RFU) does not agree with the decision by FIFA and UEFA to suspend all Russian teams until further notice. The World Football Association announced on the official channels on Monday evening that the suspension had been decided in consultation with UEFA due to the war situation in Ukraine. The RFU speaks of a ‘discriminatory’ decision and threatens legal action.
The decision of FIFA and UEFA means that both Russian clubs and national teams are banned from (inter)national football. This means, among other things, that Russia’s play-off match against Poland for a World Cup ticket is now also officially cancelled; President of the Polish Football Association Cezary Kulesza emphasized on Saturday morning that Poland did not want to play against the Russians. Spartak Moscow, where Quincy Promes is active and Guus Til and Jorrit Hendrix (both leased to Feyenoord) are also under contract, will be immediately removed from the Europa League. This puts a line through the diptych in the eighth final against RB Leipzig.
“The Russian Football Association strongly disagrees with the decision of FIFA and UEFA to suspend all Russian teams,” the RFU wrote in a statement on the official website of the association. “We believe that this decision is at odds with the norms and principles of international competition, as well as the power of sport. This decision has a clearly discriminatory nature and especially harms the athletes, their trainers and employees and above all millions of Russian and foreign fans. sports organizations should be protecting them.”
The RFU also accused FIFA and UEFA “for causing division in the sports community, which has always adhered to the principles of equality, mutual respect and independence from politics.” “We have the right to appeal the decision of FIFA and UEFA in accordance with international sports law,” the RFU concluded. Global players’ union FIFPro called on FIFA earlier Monday to protect foreign players in Russia and to let them tear their contracts free of charge.
Related
More sports news