The sporting world has closed its doors to Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
FIFA and UEFA have swiftly followed the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that its athletes be barred from international events, by suspending Russian teams from international soccer.
It means, unless troops are soon withdrawn and a peace settlement agreed, Russia will be kicked out of this year’s men’s World Cup and Women’s Euros.
A growing number of countries had already said they would refuse to play Russian teams at any level.
The recommendation from the IOC, which in addition stripped Russian President Vladimir Putin of the Olympic Order, also applied to athletes from Belarus, from where some Russian forces are entering Ukraine, and officials from both nations.
Finland had already told ice hockey’s ruling body that it did not want either Russia or Belarus to participate in the world championships it will host in May.
Swimming’s global governing body called off the World Junior Swimming Championships that were set to take place in Kazan in August.
Badminton’s world governing body cancelled all sanctioned tournaments in Russia and Belarus.
Ukrainian sports bodies have called for individuals such as tennis players and Formula One drivers, to be barred from competing in events. This would jeopardise new tennis men’s No.1 Daniil Medvedev from defending his position and the F1 season of Haas driver Nikita Mazepin.
Manchester City’s Ukrainian international Oleksandr Zinchenko echoed that plea and added, via Instagram, “Stop the sale of rights to broadcasts of international sporting competitions to Russian media. Prohibit Russian companies from being sponsors of international competitions and clubs.”
FIFA and European governing body UEFA issued a joint statement suspending the participation of Russian teams in their competitions ‘until further notice’.
In March Russia are due to compete in qualifying play-offs for this year World Cup, initially against Poland, then against the winner of Sweden’s tie with Czech Republic. All three countries had refused to play Russia.
In July Russia Women are due to play in the Euros in England. Switzerland, their opening opponents, had said they would not play the tie.
The move also meant Spartak Moscow were expelled from the Europa League with opponents RB Leipzig progressing to the last eight.
UEFA also cancelled their sponsorship deal with Russian energy giant Gazprom.
The IOC, stating the ‘integrity of sporting competition’ was affected if Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete while many Ukrainian ones could not, said their 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.”
It added that under exceptional circumstances athletes from the two countries could compete as neutrals.
The IOC added Putin and two officials were stripped of the Olympic Order “based on the exceptional circumstances of the situation and considering the extremely grave violation of the Olympic Truce and other violations of the Olympic Charter by the Russian government in the past.”
Russian Olympic committee leader Stanislav Pozdnyakov said in a statement “there is only one comment to make — we categorically disagree,” adding it would help national federations to challenge “discriminatory rulings.”
The IOC’s statement came shortly before the Winter Paralympics, which start in Beijing on Friday. The International Paralympic Committee meets on Wednesday to discuss Russia ahead of the Games.
Meanwhile Sheriff Tiraspol manager Yuriy Vernydub, who led the Transnistrian club to victory over Real Madrid earlier this year, has joined many of Ukraine’s notable boxing figures in taking up arms to defend the country.
Ben
Guest
Christian Vieri blasts the ball over the crossbar from a yard out, "we wuz cheated"!
chris
Guest
Andy you and your conspiracy theories. Now it's Italy and Ronaldo? Where was the favouritism when Italy was cheated out of the World Cup in Japan/Korea? And for that matter Spain in the same tournament?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Stu You might be right (but) focussing on the point I was trying to make - sporting organisations know that once politics enters the conversation they have to deal with 200 different versions of reality and some pretty loud voices - imagined Trump dictating who can play at the Americas World Cup :shocked: Whilst I disagree with what Russia is doing the rush to ban them from sporting competitions in retaliation sets a precedent Sports may regret in future.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
FIFA were faced with the prospect of Russia farcically qualifying as teams refused to play them and then proceed through the tournament on the same basis. Their inclusion would have resulted in the withdrawal of serious sponsorship money and thrown shade on the jewel in FIFA's crown, shade that would be felt most keenly by Infantino's current landlord & protector. There were no moral dimensions to Infantino's decision making; neither his initial reticence nor subsequent acquiescence.
stu
Guest
Andy....I could understand your logic at ground level. Let me lob in the thought that an event such as the Olympics replaces War. At a higher level than the athlete, governments fund the athlete to get a result....victory and number 1 on the medal table means 'we' won.
stu
Guest
Waz....I think you will find that the Australian governments approach to asylum seeker would generally raise 'grave concerns' rather than a legal breach of treaty. Not intending to discount your comment, however in this age of innuendo perhaps needs more detail.
Nick Symonds
Guest
NEWS: International Olympic Committee places politics above athletes' rights to compete as it reacts to Russia-Ukraine war - "...the Olympic Movement is united in its sense of fairness not to punish athletes for the decisions of their government if they are not actively participating in them. We are committed to fair competitions for everybody without any discrimination." In the next passage, the IOC erased the very claim it made above. "The current war in Ukraine, however, puts the Olympic Movement in a dilemma," the statement read. "While athletes from Russia and Belarus would be able to continue to participate in sports events, many athletes from Ukraine are prevented from doing so because of the attack on their country." - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-01/russia-ukraine-ioc-places-politics-above-right-to-compete/100871876
Redcap
Roar Guru
Yeah, I'm a bit torn on this one. It's consistent with the broader theme of isolating Russia, and there's obviously a very good reason for doing so, even if it also punishes innocent Russians who don't support the lunacy of the regime. Which leads to the question: why, and to what extent, should innocent Russians, including footballers, be punished for the actions of a madman and his corrupt cabal? I'm not sure I have a good answer.
Waz
Roar Rookie
No it’s not, sporting organisations try and keep politics out for good reasons. The USA should/could have faced similar sanctions over Iraq. Australia over its treatment of asylum seekers which breaches international accords. I’ve no doubt you can draw a line (as you have here) but find 100 people in a hundred countries and they’ll have different lines. The IOC is threatened with legal action over similar moves in sports they control if they take a similar approach, so it’s not clear cut. Now personally I’m pleased with this move, not least because countries refused to play them leaving fifa with no choice.
Nick
Roar Guru
No court would bother to hear it, AA. Not one. Nor would Russia even bother. If Russia were readmitted, others would simply boycott
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
if russia takes this to the highest sporting court possible, im not sure they would actually get thrown out. *they qualified fairly *no failed drug testing *no match fixing what actual grounds would be used to kick them out in a purely sporting sense? i would not be surpried if FIFA/UEFA now allocate the spot automatically to portgual (cant have ronaldo missing the world cup) or italy (with there deep political links to both organisations) as the "best 2nd place team in the group stage" no different to denmark at euro 92 - who shouldnt have won it, let alone even been there you cant keep having different rules for the middle east when it comes anything to do with football, compared to the rest of the world
AGO74
Guest
I support the banning of these nations. The impact on the athletes is unfortunate but is insignificant compared to the pain experienced by Ukrainians at present. Some things are more important than a particular athlete or team's right to compete. That said, you rightly point out the gigantic elephant in the room which is the terrible conduct of FIFA and to a somewhat lesser extent the IOC in recent decades......
chris
Guest
Oh I'm pretty sure its very clear cut Waz. Country invades another sovereign nation targeting and killing civilians along the way.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately other sports who tried to go this (including the IOC) are facing legal challenges from Russia over proposed exclusions. It is not as clear cut as you seem to think.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
not sure i agree with this. why punish a country who's players worked there backside off in qualifying to get there? we've been on this merry go round before with yugoslavia and south africa yet they still keep the world cup in a country that won due to bribes and has awful humanitarian conditions different rules when it comes to money
chris
Guest
That disgraceful Infantini was still clinging on to the notion that Russia be allowed to keep competing (under another name - wt f?) Thankfully UEFA (once again) made FIFA do the right thing and forced his hand. He should resign now. He is no better than Blatter. These pitiful men drunk on power and losing all sight of what is right and fair.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Not before time.