The most common speculations over the past few weeks has been the mixture of football and politics. Hence, we take a look at the sanctions placed on Russia by some of the most influential football governing bodies.
FIFA and UEFA logos displayed on phone screens and Russian flag displayed on a phone screen are seen in this multiple exposure illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on February 28, 2022. (Photo illustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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.
Teams affected by the suspension?
World Cup 2022 – Russia were scheduled to host Poland in a World Cup qualifying play-off on March 24 and if they remain suspended at that time, they would be out of the World Cup and unable to progress to the finals in Qatar in November.
Europa League – UEFA has already confirmed Spartak Moscow will not play their Europa League match against RB Leipzig, with the German club advancing to the quarter finals.
Nations League – In June, Russia are due to play Albania twice, as well as games against Israel and Iceland.
Women’s Euro 2022 – UEFA says a decision will be made at a later date about the impact on the tournament in England in July, which Russia have qualified for”- as released by sky sports
A joint statement released by FIFA and UEFA on February 28th, 2022 reads: “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.”
The sanction appears the best action UEFA and FIFA can do to influence the situation because if their respective teams and clubs are allow to play in international competitions it puts the traveling players and fans at risk, with the home players ans supporters inclusive, and the sanctions is a safe measure, looking back to when war had been brought into sports,
The Munich massacre that happened on the fifth to sixth of September 1972, saw 11 victims (six Israeli coaches and five israeli athletes) as the Israeli Olympic team were killed while representing their country at the Olympics in Munich 1972 by the Black September members.
The sanction raises questions and concerns of whether or not politics should have a hand in sports, but looking at the bright side, the sanction appears a fair play by the football governing bodies.
Author Idowu Ayodele Francesco
