The Russian Federation will appeal against the exclusion of Russian clubs and national teams from FIFA and UEFA competitions at the International Sports Arbitration in Lausanne. Reuters reported. International federations eliminated Russia earlier this week due to its attack on Ukraine.
The Russian Union said in a statement that it would file one lawsuit against two governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA. It will require that Russian men’s and women’s national teams be able to play international matches, including the upcoming playoff qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar. In the semifinals on March 24, the team had to play at home against Poland and, in case of victory, challenge one of the Sweden-Czechia pairs in the next match.
UEFA also excluded Russian clubs from its competitions, which affected Spartak Moscow in the cups, which was to face Leipzig in the European League’s eight-final. Both matches were canceled and the German team advanced to the quarterfinals without a fight.
FIFA originally ordered Russia to play home games on neutral ground without spectators and banned it from using the national anthem and flag. UEFA again took over St. Petersburg from this year’s Champions League final.
Both organizations were criticized for this and, after a statement by the International Olympic Committee on Monday, which recommended that sports organizations exclude Russian participants from all competitions, resorted to tougher sanctions. Russia has already turned to Lausanne today with an appeal against the exclusion of its athletes from the upcoming Paralympics.
“We believe that FIFA and UEFA did not have a legal basis when they decided to exclude Russian teams,” the Russian Union said in a statement. “The decision is clearly discriminatory and harms a large number of athletes, coaches, club and national team staff and, above all, the millions of Russian and foreign fans whose interests international sports organizations must primarily defend.” the union said at the beginning of the week.
–
