All Russian clubs and the national team have been suspended from competition because of Russia's military invasion of the Ukraine.

FIFA confirmed that the suspension will be in place until further notice. Numerous international and club teams stated that they would refuse to play against any Russian teams.

“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.”

Russia hosted the previous FIFA World Cup in 2018 and made it to the quarter-finals where they were beaten 4-3 by Croatia on penalties after this match ended 2-2 after added extra time. Croatia went on to play in the final where they lost 4-2 to France.

Last week, UEFA decided to strip Russia from hosting the 2022 Champions League final, which was set to be played in St Petersburg on 28 May. Instead, the final will now be played at Stade de France in Paris.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport