FIFA & UEFA announce Russia suspension from international football, following Ukraine invasion
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In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, UEFA and FIFA released a joint statement on Monday 28th February, announcing that all Russian teams have been suspended from playing internationally with immediate effect. The move follows last week's decision by UEFA to move the final of the Championships League to Paris from St Petersburg, and growing pressure on FIFA to do more than allow Russia to continue competing in competitions on neutral grounds and under a different name.
The International Olympic Committee had also issued a recommendation to sporting bodies that Russian and Belarussian teams and athletes not be invited or allowed to participate in sporting competitions.
UEFA has announced the cancellation of a "highly lucrative" sponsorship deal with Russian gas company Gazprom.
Fifa and Uefa have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both Fifa and Uefa competitions until further notice. 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.FIFA & UEFA
In order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants, the IOC Executive Board recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions."