This was agreed this Sunday by the FIFA Council Bureau, which has adopted “the first measures regarding the war in Ukraine.” “First of all, FIFA wishes to reiterate its condemnation of the use of force by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Violence is never a solution and FIFA expresses its deepest solidarity with all those affected by what is happening in Ukraine,” he notes.
FIFA, in addition, “makes a new call for peace to be restored urgently and for a constructive dialogue to begin immediately. FIFA remains in close contact with the Ukrainian Football Association and with members of the Ukrainian football community who have requested support to leave the country while the current conflict persists.
“In order to deal with matters related to football and in coordination with UEFA, the FIFA Council Bureau – in which the president and the six presidents of the confederations participate – has unanimously decided to take the first immediate measures, in accordance with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and that will be applicable until further notice, “he says.
The first measure is that “no international competition will be played on the territory of Russia, and home games will be played on neutral territory and without spectators.”
Also, “the member association representing Russia will participate in any competition under the name ‘Russian Football Union (RFU)’ and not ‘Russia'”. And, thirdly, “the Russian flag or anthem will not be used in matches involving teams from the Football Union” of this country.
FIFA adds that it “will continue its ongoing dialogue with the IOC, UEFA and other sports organizations to determine any additional measures or sanctions, including a possible exclusion from competitions, to be applied in the near future if the situation does not improve quickly. The FIFA Council Bureau remains on standby to make any of these decisions.” “It is important to highlight that FIFA firmly believes that the sports movement must be united in its decisions on this issue and that sport must continue to be a vector of peace and hope,” he stresses.
Regarding the upcoming qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup, FIFA states that “it has taken good note of the positions expressed through social media by the federations of Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden, and has already dialogue with all these associations. FIFA will remain in close contact to try to find suitable and acceptable solutions together.” “FIFA’s thoughts are with all those affected by this shocking and worrying situation,” he concludes.
The entrance FIFA acts against Russia: without competitions, flag, anthem or name was first published in diary TODAY.
