FIFA has expelled Russia from the 2022 Qatar World Cup and its local football clubs were suspended from all FIFA or UEFA tournaments.
Through a joint statement on Monday, Feb 28, FFA announced that the measures will stay until further notice citing Russia's President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia men’s team was due to play in the World Cup qualifying playoff in March 2022 while its women’s side had qualified for the European Championship in England, to be held in July.
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“FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice,” the statement read.
One of the Russian football clubs Spartak Moscow will not be featuring in the Europa League last 16 where they were to face German side RB Leipzig.
Russia who were in pool B of the qualifying play off were to face Poland on March 24, with the winner facing either Sweden or Czech Republic on March 29, for a slot in the 2022 World Cup.
The winner was scheduled to face Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 for a place at the finals.
However Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic wrote to FIFA noting that they would be boycotting their respective fixtures against Russia.
Earlier on Sunday, February 27, the world football governing body noted that the Russian national team would be allowed to play in the playoffs under the name of the Football Union of Russia, with the home matches being played on neutral grounds.
The matches would also be played behind closed doors with the Russian flag and Russian anthem banned from being used in the games.
FIFA had also directed that the matches, prior to being cancelled, were to take place on neutral territory with the Russian flag and anthem banned.
Despite FIFA first announcement the Polish FA President, Cezary Kulesza, noted that Poland would not play with Russia despite the directives by FIFA.
As a result FIFA had to change their stance and therefore resulted in kicking Russia out of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.