Due to the invasion of Ukraine, Russia is no longer allowed to host international football competitions on its own territory.
Home games of the Sbornaja should therefore only take place on neutral ground and without spectators, the world association FIFA decided. At the same time, FIFA threatened to ban the country completely if the situation didn’t improve quickly.
The decision of the office of the FIFA Council, in consultation with the six presidents of the continental associations, was taken unanimously, the statement said. The world association based its decision on the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Accordingly, the Russian anthem and flag should not be used in international competitions. Teams compete under the name Football Union of Russia.
FIFA also emphasized that it was in contact with the associations of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic “in order to find appropriate and acceptable solutions together”. The three associations had announced that they would not play Russia in the playoffs for World Cup qualifying.
Poland were drawn as opponents of Russia in the playoff semi-finals and should have played in Moscow at the end of March. The winner of this game would then have had home rights again against the winner of the Sweden-Czech Republic match.
