FIFA, UEFA ban Russia; remove Spartak Moscow from Europa League
UEFA has removed all Russian football teams from its competitions, including Spartak Moscow who play in the Europa League, in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.
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.”
Spartak Moscow had been drawn against German side RB Leipzig and the home leg in the Russian capital was slated for March 17.
Following the decision from UEFA, RB Leipzig have been qualified to the quarter-finals of the competition.
Apart from Spartak, every other football team in Russia has now been banned by both FIFA and UEFA following the situation in Ukraine.
In addition, UEFA has also canceled it’s Champions League sponsorship arrangement with Russian energy company GazProm.
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