European football Governing body, UEFA has concluded plans to suspend Russian teams from all competitions in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia last week.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the first Russian team affected would be Spartak Moscow, who are billed face RB Leipzig away in a Europa League last 16, first-leg tie on March 10.
The Russian women’s national team would also be excluded from the European Championship due to be hosted by England sometime in July this year.
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According to SID, the decision to suspend Russia is supported by several national federations, including the powerful German and English associations.
‘I can’t imagine that there will be matches against Russia. There cannot – and must not – be,’ Peter Peters, a candidate for the German FA presidency, told reporters.
‘It is about war. You have to take a clear stance on that.’
Meanwhile, Africa Daily News, New York gathered that the IOC has also withdrawn the Olympic Order, its highest award, from all high-ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin.
In a statement published on Monday, the IOC said its 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’.
If not possible for ‘organisational or legal reasons’, the IOC called on sports officials to do ‘everything in their power’ to prevent athletes from the two countries from taking part under the name of Russia or Belarus.
It is a matter of particular urgency in relation to the Paralympic Winter Games, which begin Friday in Beijing.
Russia’s participation in the World Cup play-offs next month is also in doubt after FIFA plans to allow them to play on neutral territory were dismissed as “unacceptable” by rivals.
Recall that the IOC last week urged all international sports federations to cancel forthcoming events in Russia, angry at Moscow violating an ‘Olympic Truce’ with its attack on Ukraine.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
