Reports state that FIFA and UEFA have taken action against Russia for “Putin’s choice of war” against Ukraine; they will be suspended until further notice.
FIFA and UEFA have suspended the national team and all Russian clubs from footballing action in all competitions. This will be detrimental to Russia’s World Cup hopes as they are scheduled to play Poland in a World Cup play-off semi-final next month.
Added to this, the Russian Women’s National Team will not be allowed to play in the European Championship taking place in the summer.
"The suspension means that, barring an unlikely change of course in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the country will not be able to face Poland in a World Cup play-off semi-final next month, take part in the Women’s European Championships this summer and Spartak Moscow have been kicked out of the Europa League."
UEFA went on and suspended their sponsorship deal with Gazprom ‚— a deal that’s said to be in place since 2012 — and worth an estimated £33.4m (€40m) per season — a massive sponsorship lost but also opens the door for those waiting in the wings.
Official. FIFA and UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions. 🚨
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 28, 2022
“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine”, statement says.
"UEFA has also terminated its deal with energy company Gazprom, which is majority-owned by the Russian state and is also a major sponsor of the Champions League.The sponsorship deal has been in place since 2012 and has been reported to be worth around £33.4m (€40m) per season. (Via: skysports.com)"
Sadly some clubs have already lost out due to the war on Ukraine
The knock-on effect is already well and truly in full swing with Spartak Moscow losing their chance to advance to the quarter-finals in the Europa League and have lost their place to German opponents, RB Leipzig.
Removing Russian sponsorships have become a trend amongst clubs worldwide and in most sports. As per FIFA and UEFA, as long as they pursue the war, they will continue to take action and show football stands together.
A joint FIFA and UEFA statement read:
"Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, 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.(Via: Sky Sports)"
Another big headline was that of Chelsea and its owner, Roman Abramovich, who had to step down from the Blues and hand over stewardship of the club to “Chelsea’s charitable foundation”.