FIFA Bans Russia from Qatar World Cup... "Prohibited from All International Competitions"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Russia will not be able to participate in the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar this year.

FIFA announced on the 1st that it will ban the Russian national team and club teams from participating in FIFA-sanctioned competitions until further notice. This measure was taken jointly with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), banning not only the Russian national team but also Russian club teams from international competitions.

FIFA added, "We express strong solidarity with those affected in Ukraine through this situation so that football can contribute to world peace."

Previously, FIFA had imposed sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including banning Russia from hosting international competitions and prohibiting the use of the national flag, anthem, and name in international matches. However, it did not ban participation in matches themselves, which drew criticism from some European countries. As a result, additional sanctions were imposed within a day.

Russia will also be excluded from the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup European qualifiers scheduled for the 24th of this month. Russia was scheduled to play a playoff match against Poland on that day. This is the first time in 28 years since Yugoslavia was sanctioned by the United Nations and banned from the 1994 USA World Cup that FIFA has banned a member country from participating in the World Cup for political reasons. South Africa was also banned from FIFA competitions in 1964 and 1976 due to its apartheid policies.

Furthermore, if the situation does not change, Russia will not be able to participate in the UEFA Women's Championship to be held in England this July, and Spartak Moscow, which advanced to the Round of 16 in the UEFA Europa League, will also be disqualified from the competition.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.