UEFA suspends contract with Russian company Gazprom for annual sponsorship of 54 billion won
[AP=연합뉴스]
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Dongchan Kim = Russia, which invaded Ukraine last month, was expelled from this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
FIFA announced on the 1st (Korean time) that “the Russian national team and club teams will be banned from participating in FIFA-sponsored tournaments until further notice.”
As a result of this joint action with the European Football Federation (UEFA), the Russian national team or Russian club team will be banned from participating in international competitions.
On the previous day, FIFA imposed a ban on the Russian national team from holding international competitions and a ban on the use of national flags and national names in international matches, accusing them of being responsible for the invasion of Ukraine.
However, it did not prohibit participation in the game itself, which caused a backlash from some countries, including Europe, and after one day, Russia’s national team and club teams were banned from participating in international competitions through additional disciplinary action.
“Fifa expresses its strong solidarity with those affected by this crisis in Ukraine so that football can contribute to world peace,” FIFA added.
[EPA=연합뉴스]
As a result of this disciplinary action, Russia will not be able to compete in the qualifying rounds for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar in Europe scheduled for the 24th of this month.
Russia was scheduled to play a play-off match against Poland on the 24th, and if they win, Sweden and the Czech Republic will face off against the winner of the World Cup, which will start in Qatar in November this year.
It is the first time in 28 years that FIFA has banned member countries from participating in the World Cup for political reasons since Yugoslavia, which was sanctioned by the United Nations during the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Prior to this, South Africa was banned from participating in FIFA competitions in 1964 and 1976 due to racial discrimination.
Poland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic, who may or may face Russia in this year’s World Cup qualifiers, have already made clear that they will not play against Russia.
Russia will also not be able to participate in the UEFA Women’s Championship to be held in England in July unless circumstances change, and Spartak Moscow, who advanced to the Europa League round of 16, UEFA’s club competition, will also be disqualified from the tournament.
UEFA has also decided to suspend its sponsorship contract with Russian energy company Gazprom, which is worth €40 million a year until 2024.
Last month, UEFA changed the venue for this year’s Champions League final from Saint Petersburg, Russia, to Paris, France.
The Associated Press reported, “The Russian Football Association can file a complaint with the International Court of Arbitration (CAS) for the disciplinary action against FIFA and UEFA,” said Valery Carpin of Russian football. The national team coach said.
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2022/03/01 07:27 Send