In the early morning of Beijing time today (1st), UEFA and FIFA issued a joint statement saying that They would prohibit Russian teams from participating in all events under the umbrella of UEFA and FIFA; and last night (28th), the International Olympic Committee also issued an official statement, suggesting that international sports associations and sports event organizers should not invite or allow Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to participate.
On Monday, FIFA and UEFA issued a joint statement announcing an indefinite total ban on Russia's national teams at all levels and clubs. The Russian national team was scheduled to play in the 2022 World Cup qualifier play-off against Poland on March 24, and if the sanctions on Russian football are not lifted by then, russia will completely lose the possibility of playing the World Cup in Qatar. Subsequently, the Russian Football Federation issued an official statement to return the decision, saying that it would reserve the right to finally resort to justice.
The statement of the Russian Football Federation reads as follows:
"The Russian Football Federation firmly opposes the decision of FIFA and UEFA to suspend all Russian teams from participating in international competitions until further notice. We believe that this decision violates both all the standards and principles governing international competitions and is contrary to sportsmanship and fair play. ”
"This resolution is clearly discriminatory, affecting countless athletes, coaches and managers, as well as clubs and national teams, and more importantly, affecting millions of Russian and global fans, whose interests should be the highest priority for all international sports organizations."
"This behaviour has caused a great deal of division in the international sports society, which has hitherto always adhered to the principles of equality, mutual respect and independence from politics. The Russian Football Federation reserves the right to resort to justice in accordance with international sports law against FIFA and UEFA decisions. ”
As the international situation between Russia and Ukraine is still in constant flux, FIFA has not announced the corresponding follow-up measures if the Russian team is completely out of the World Preliminary Tournament play-offs. According to the European media, there are currently three possibilities: one is that Russia's opponent Poland directly advances to the final; the second is that Slovakia, the third place in Group H of the World Preliminary Round, will make up for the Russian team; and the third is the third Norwegian team in the group who has the best performance in the European region of the World Preliminary Tournament and is not qualified for the play-offs.
According to the joint statement that "both presidents (Infantino and Cheferin) hope that the situation in Ukraine can be quickly and significantly improved, so that football can once again become a carrier of solidarity and peace for people", the only way for russia to continue its journey to the World Preliminary Tournament play-offs is for the situation in Russia and Ukraine to suddenly improve, so that their indefinite suspension penalty may be cancelled before the arrival of the game. In addition, UEFA will also decide whether the Russian women's football team, which has received tickets to the finals, can retain the qualification for the 2021 Women's European Championship.
After FIFA and UEFA jointly announced an indefinite ban on Russian football, the veteran Russian Super League powerhouse Spartak Moscow, which broke into the round of 16 of this season's Europa League, was forced to interrupt its European journey, and all efforts so far this season have been wiped out. They were supposed to play a two-legged match for the quarter-finals against Bundesliga side Leipzig RB on March 10 and 17, but now both clubs have issued statements confirming the cancellation. This also means that Leipzig automatically advanced to the Europa League quarterfinals, and the current leipzig manager Tedesko was previously appointed by Spartak Moscow, so the latter, in addition to expressing his helplessness about being forced to withdraw from the European war, also sent blessings to the former manager for the rest of his journey.
Spartak Moscow stressed that although they chose to obey the decision, they did not agree with the approach of the international football governing body, "UEFA and FIFA have decided to expel us from the Europa League, which also means that our round of 16 matches with the Leipzig RB will not be held as planned." This ruling is related to the position of these organizations on recent events in Ukraine. UEFA's and FIFA's decision, while expected, was extremely disturbing. Unfortunately, our efforts in the Europa League have been thwarted for reasons far beyond sport. ”
"Spartacus has millions of fans not only in Russia, but all over the world. Our successes and failures bring people together in different countries. We firmly believe that even in the most difficult times, sport should aim to build bridges, not just burn them. We can only be forced to obey decisions that we cannot agree with. For now, we will focus on the domestic competition and look forward to achieving the peace that everyone needs at an early date. ”
Subsequently, Spartacus continued to update the social media and sent generous blessings to Tedesko and his opponents. The 39-year-old coached Spartak Moscow from October 2019 to May 2021, and during his tenure the team has long been at the top of the Russian Premier League table, making Tedesko popular with fans. Although the Italian coach chose to leave Russia due to the epidemic, his results last season in leading Spartacus to the second place in the Russian Premier League and reaching the third round of the Champions League qualification tournament are still grateful to the team, "We hope that our former head coach Tedesco's Europa League journey will be smooth. We also hope that our future paths will intersect again, albeit under more peaceful conditions. ”
The severe sanctions imposed by FIFA and UEFA have been affirmed by several of its fawnings. The Spanish Football Federation issued a statement expressing its full support for the decision, "The Royal Spanish Football Association believes that in the current context, there should be no football connection with the Russian Football Federation. Russian players and fans should not be held accountable, but football federations and organisations should act resolutely and responsibly in the face of the current situation to ensure that sporting values and their essence continue to be promoted globally, and that the termination of certain commercial cooperation is within the scope of action. ”
IOC: It is recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be banned from participating
On February 28, the official website of the International Olympic Committee issued a statement in which the IOC Executive Committee once again discussed the Russian government's violation of the Olympic Armistice Agreement, and pointed out that the Olympic Movement is currently in a dilemma under the tension between Russia and Ukraine - athletes from Russia and Belarus can still compete normally, but many athletes from Ukraine are unable to participate normally due to attacks on the country. Therefore, the IOC recommends that international sports associations and organizers of sports events not invite or allow Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials to participate.
The IOC Executive Committee also requires international sports associations and sports event organizers to ensure that athletes and officials from Russia or Belarus do not participate in the event in the name of the state, only allow them to participate as individual or neutral athletes and teams, and that symbols, colors, flags and national anthem related to the Russian and Belarusian countries should not appear in the event. In addition, the IOC has also recommended that no sporting events be held in Russia and Belarus from 25 February.
The Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee also revoked the Olympic Medal awarded to Russian President Putin, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshenko, and Deputy Director of the Office of the Russian President Kozak for violating the Olympic Armistice Agreement and the Olympic Charter.
The IOC Executive Committee, with the help of the IOC Special Working Group, will continue to pay attention to the situation in Russia and Ukraine, and in the future, it may adjust the countermeasures and suggestions to individual sports associations and sports event organizers according to the dynamic adjustment of the situation.
Wen | Holden Malt
Edit | from the heart