KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTING —- The International Olympic Committee, in an unprecedented ditching of its old excuse that sport and politics are not connected, has recommended all sports to expel Russia from competition because of the invasion of Ukraine.

This prepares the ground for FIFA, the international football federation, to step up its sanctions and kick the Russian national team out of the World Cup.

The likelihood of this next step in cancelling Russia from the worldwide game was foreshadowed in FIFA’s statement on Sunday night which endorsed the WADA-imposed no-anthem-no-flag restrictions but hinted at the possibility of expulsion as a result of ongoing talks among major sports bodies.

The Russian national team are scheduled to host Poland in the World Cup’s European playoffs on March 24 and then, if they win, host Sweden or Czech Republic on March 29 with a place in the finals in Qatar at stake. All three opponent federations have stated they will not play against Russia, even in the initially-proposed neutral venue behind closed doors.

England, Republic of Ireland, Wales and Switzerland have also announced a refusal to allow their teams to play Russia at any level.

A lengthy IOC statement said: “In order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants, the IOC [executive board] recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions.”

European federation UEFA has switched its Champions League Final on May 28 from St Petersburg to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis and is currently extricating itself from a major sponsorship with Russian energy giant Gazprom. It is also expected to expel Spartak Moscow from the Europa League, awarding a bye into the next round for RB Leipzig.

UEFA decisions

UEFA must also decide in the coming weeks on Russia’s scheduled participation in the Nations League and in the Women’s European Championship in England in the summer.

Normally, expulsion from a competition prompts the victim federation to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport however the IOC and FIFA’s lawyers believe their statutes contain sufficient provisions to act in such cases of force majeure.

Both presidents Thomas Bach of the IOC and Gianni Infantino of FIFA will breathe sighs of relief that the means are at hand to distance themselves from Russian leader Vladimir Putin with whom they have shared so many cosy, award-sharing photo-opportunities in the past.

On that note, the IOC has withdrawn the award to Putin and two other senior Russian sports officials of its highest accolade, the Olympic Order.

IOC statement:

IOC EB recommends no participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials

— The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) discussed again today the dilemma the Olympic Movement is currently facing after the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government and the government of Belarus through its support in this.

The Olympic Movement is united in its mission to contribute to peace through sport and to unite the world in peaceful competition beyond all political disputes. The Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, World Championships and World Cups and many other sports events unite athletes of countries which are in confrontation and sometimes even war.

At the same time, the Olympic Movement is united in its sense of fairness not to punish athletes for the decisions of their government if they are not actively participating in them. We are committed to fair competitions for everybody without any discrimination.

The current war in Ukraine, however, puts the Olympic Movement in a dilemma. While athletes from Russia and Belarus would be able to continue to participate in sports events, many athletes from Ukraine are prevented from doing so because of the attack on their country.

This is a dilemma which cannot be solved. The IOC EB has therefore today carefully considered the situation and, with a heavy heart, issued the following resolution:

In order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants, the IOC EB recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions.

Wherever this is not possible on short notice for organisational or legal reasons, the IOC EB strongly urges International Sports Federations and organisers of sports events worldwide to do everything in their power to ensure that no athlete or sports official from Russia or Belarus be allowed to take part under the name of Russia or Belarus. Russian or Belarusian nationals, be it as individuals or teams, should be ccepted only as neutral athletes or neutral teams. No national symbols, colours, flags or anthems should be displayed.

Wherever, in very extreme circumstances, even this is not possible on short notice for organisational or legal reasons, the IOC EB leaves it to the relevant organisation to find its own way to effectively address the dilemma described above.

In this context, the IOC EB considered in particular the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and reiterated its full support for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Games.

The IOC EB maintains its urgent recommendation not to organise any sports event in Russia or Belarus, issued on 25 February 2022.

The IOC EB has, based on the exceptional circumstances of the situation and considering the extremely grave violation of the Olympic Truce and other violations of the Olympic Charter by the Russian government in the past, taken the ad hoc decision to withdraw the Olympic Order from all persons who currently have an important function in the government of the Russian Federation or other government-related high-ranking position, including the following:

Mr Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation (Gold, 2001)

Mr Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation (Gold, 2014)

Mr Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office (Gold, 2014)

The IOC EB welcomes and appreciates the many calls for peace by athletes, sports officials and members of the worldwide Olympic Community. The IOC admires and supports in particular the calls for peace by Russian athletes.

The IOC EB reaffirms its full solidarity with the Ukrainian Olympic Community. They are in our hearts and thoughts. The IOC EB commits to continue and strengthen its efforts for humanitarian assistance. Therefore, the IOC EB has today established a solidarity fund. In this context, the IOC expresses its gratitude to the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Sports Federations that are already supporting Ukrainian athletes and their families.

The IOC EB, assisted by the IOC Task Force, continues to closely monitor the situation. It may adapt its recommendations and measures according to future developments.

Today’s IOC statement builds on the IOC statements made on 24 February 2022 and 25 February 2022.

The IOC reaffirms the call of the IOC President: “Give peace a chance.”

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