KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTING —- FIFA has finally raised an active reaction to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, raising the possible threat of World Cup expulsion.

Other international sports federations had been quick to denounce the assault and order a varying range of sanctions against Russia. Until today [Sunday] FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino had sat on their hands, possibly in the hope that the crisis would be resolved – one way or the other – within a few days.

The national football federations of Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic stepped into the political and humanitarian breach by announcing their refusal to compete against Russia – even on neutral territory – in the World Cup playoffs in late March.

The Russian national team are scheduled to host Poland on March 24 and then, if they win, host Sweden or the Czechs on March 29 with a place in the finals in Qatar at stake.

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

FIFA finally responded on Sunday evening. A statement opened with “condemnation of the use of force by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.” This was significant in itself because FIFA always shies away from expressing any sort of politics-linked criticism.

An online emergency meeting of the FIFA bureau – Infantino and the presidents of the six regional confederations – had “unanimously decided” to follow a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee and bar any international competition matches in Russia.

Any home matches should be played on neutral territory and without spectators.

Refuseniks

This is academic as far as Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic are concerned. They have continued to insist that they will not play against Russia under any circumstances.

FIFA also ordered that “the member association representing Russia shall participate in any competition under the name ‘Football Union of Russia (RFU)’ and not ‘Russia’. No flag or anthem of Russia will be used in matches where teams from the Football Union of Russia participate.”

In fact these two strictures would already have been enforced under the orders of the World Anti-Doping Agency should Russia qualify for the World Cup finals. The WADA punishment, such as it is, was issued in its punitive ruling on the Russian doping scandal.

So, for FIFA, nothing new here.

Discussions

However the sting was in the tail of the statement which following discussions with the IOC, European federation and other sport organisations to determine any additional measures or sanctions.

These would include “a potential exclusion from competitions, that shall be applied in the near future should the situation not be improving rapidly.”

In fact, to expel Russia from the World Cup it might be necessary first to suspend the country from FIFA membership, thus rendering it ineligible to compete in international competition.

That would be a sensational step for the world governing body to take against one of its most powerful and politically influential member associations and one which had hosted the World Cup itself only four years ago.

UEFA has already switched its Champions League Final on May 28 from St Petersburg to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. It has yet to rule on Russia’s participation in the Nations League later this spring.

For FIFA to show Russia a World Cup red card would be on a different scale of significance altogether.

FIFA statement:

Bureau of the FIFA Council takes initial measures with regard to war in Ukraine

First and foremost, FIFA would like 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 to all people affected by what is happening in Ukraine.

FIFA calls again for the urgent restoration of peace and for constructive dialogue to commence immediately. FIFA remains in close contact with the Ukrainian Association of Football and members of the Ukrainian football community who have been requesting support to leave the country for as long as the current conflict persists.

To address football-related matters and in coordination with UEFA, the Bureau of the FIFA Council – involving the FIFA President and the six Confederation Presidents – has unanimously decided to take immediate first measures, in line with recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and that will be applicable until further notice:

No international competition shall be played on the territory of Russia, with “home” matches being played on neutral territory and without spectators
The member association representing Russia shall participate in any competition under the name “Football Union of Russia (RFU)” and not “Russia”
No flag or anthem of Russia will be used in matches where teams from the Football Union of Russia participate
FIFA will continue its ongoing dialogue with the IOC, UEFA and other sport organisations to determine any additional measures or sanctions, including a potential exclusion from competitions, that shall be applied in the near future should the situation not be improving rapidly. The Bureau of the FIFA Council remains on standby to take any of these decisions.

Importantly, FIFA strongly believes that the sport movement should be united in its decisions on this topic and that sport should continue being a vector of peace and hope.

With regard to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers, FIFA has taken good note of the positions expressed via social media by the Polish Football Association, the Football Association of the Czech Republic and the Swedish Football Association and has already engaged in dialogue with all of these football associations. FIFA will remain in close contact to seek to find appropriate and acceptable solutions together.

FIFA’s thoughts remain with everybody affected by this shocking and worrying situation.

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