Connect with us

Sports

Russia to drag FIFA and UEFA to court over football ban

Published

on

uefa

Russia is set to appeal against the football ban imposed on the country by world football governing body, FIFA in conjunction with European football governing body, UEFA.

Ripples Nigeria earlier reported that the two football bodies released a joint statement on Monday, placing the country’s football teams – clubs and national – on suspension till further notice.

The decision followed Russia’s launch of a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last Thursday as the war between both nations has been raging.

But the Russian Football Union, on Thursday, said it will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to appeal against the decision by FIFA and UEFA.

The union said it would file one lawsuit against both organizations, demanding Russia’s men’s and women’s national teams be allowed to compete.

Read Also: Ukraine in talks with Chelsea owner Abramovich to help find resolution with Russia

The men’s team are in the 2022 World Cup play-offs which are billed for next month, while the women’s team are in this summer’s Euro 2022 competition in England.

Russian club Spartak Moscow were also kicked out of the Europa League and their last-16 opponents RB Leipzig are to advance to the quarter-finals unchallenged.

A statement from Russian football authorities said it “believes that Fifa and Uefa did not have a legal basis when deciding on the removal of Russian teams”.

The statement added: “The Russian Football Union was also not given the right to present its position, which violated the fundamental right to defence.

“In addition, when making decisions, Fifa and Uefa did not take into account other possible options for action, except for the complete exclusion of participants from the competition from Russia.”

Meanwhile, Belarusian clubs and national teams are to play their home matches in Uefa competitions at neutral venues. And no spectators will be allowed to attend matches when teams from Belarus feature as hosts.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now