BREAKING: FIFA and UEFA suspend Russia and ban country from World Cup

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BREAKING: FIFA and UEFA suspend Russia and ban country from World Cup

FIFA and UEFA have jointly suspended Russia and Russian clubs until further notice with an official decision coming on Monday.

The International Olympic Committee has previously recommended to ban Russian athletes and officials from all international sports competitions.

FIFA's previous ruling, which ordered Russia to compete in neutral territory, under the title Football Union of Russia, and without their flag and anthem, was slammed for being too soft.

The latest decision means that Russia, which invaded Ukraine last week, will be banned from the 2022 World Cup qualification play-offs in March where they were set to face Poland in the semi-final.

Spartak Moscow, the only Russian side remaining in Europe this season, will also be forbidden from continuing in the Europa League. Therefore, Bundesliga club RB Leipzig have automatically advanced to the quarter-finals.

A joint FIFA and UEFA statement reads: "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."

AuthorGeorgy TsepkovskiySourceBBC
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