On Tuesday, the International Volleyball Federation withdrew from Russia its hosting of the 2022 World Cup, scheduled for August-September, due to its invasion of Ukraine.
Poland, the world champion, and France, the Olympic champion, had warned against withdrawing if the Russian hosting was maintained.
The International Federation indicated that the identity of the new host will be announced later.
And the International Football Association (FIFA) took a similar step on Monday, when it excluded Russia from the World Cup, with the announcement of the suspension of all Russian national teams and clubs “until further notice”, in a joint statement with the European Union for the game (UEFA).
The Russian team will therefore not be able to play the qualifying play-off for the Qatar 2022 World Cup against Poland, knowing that it was to host the first leg next March, and the women’s team will also not be able to participate in the European Cup in England next July.
Spartak Moscow club, the only representative of Russia in European competitions, was also excluded from the European League (Europa League).
The joint statement read: “Football here is totally in solidarity and supportive of all the injured people in Ukraine. The presidents (FIFA and UEFA) hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve in a serious and rapid way so that football will once again be a factor of unity and peace among peoples.”
Thus, the International and European Federations followed the example of the International Olympic Committee, which recommended its Executive Committee to ban the participation of Russians and Belarusians in sports competitions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
And Poland, which was to come to Russia in the European annex, had announced its refusal to confront Russia, and Sweden and the Czech Republic, the two potential opponents of Russia, followed in its footsteps in the annex scheduled for this March.
In a question to France Prince, on Monday evening, FIFA refused to answer whether Poland will qualify for the final of the second track supplement, or a different system will be adopted.
The European Football Association will meet next week to decide on the impact of Russia’s exclusion from the European Women’s Championship next July in England.
After Wifa stripped Saint Petersburg of Russia from hosting the Champions League final and awarded it to the Stade de France in Paris, Spartak Moscow, the only representative of Russia in European competitions, was also excluded from the European League (European League), where it was expected to face Leipzig in Germany. Final price round.
In turn, the International Olympic Committee recommended international sports federations and organizers of sports events to ban the participation of Russians and Belarusians in their competitions, maintaining its previous recommendation not to organize competitions on Russian soil.
Breaking with its tradition of demanding athletes’ neutrality, the IOC applauded “the many calls for peace by athletes, sports officials and members of the global Olympic community”.
It took another powerful, though symbolic, measure by withdrawing the Medal of “Olympic Merit”, the highest Olympic honor, from all top Russian officials starting with President Vladimir Putin.
It also recommended that the flags of Russia and Belarus not be raised or their anthems played.
Many international sports federations have also taken strict measures against Russia and sometimes Belarus in volleyball, skiing, biathlon, ice hockey, rugby, boxing and swimming.
A ban was imposed on the Russian and Belarusian teams by the International Ice Hockey Federation, which means that Russia will be absent from the 2022 World Cup in Finland, in addition to the World Rugby Federation, to put an end to Russia’s slim hopes of qualifying for the World Cup France 2023.
Three Russian clubs were suspended from the Euroleague basketball tournament, while the International Skating Federation canceled all competitions scheduled in Russia, such as the International Badminton and Swimming Federation, which canceled the Junior World Cup in Kazan, Russia, in August.
The four largest boxing federations also announced that no fight would be held in Russia.
In Taekwondo, the International Taekwondo Federation stripped Putin of his honorary 9th Dan black belt, which has been granted to him since 2013, saying that Moscow’s actions contradict the sport’s vision of “peace is more valuable than victory.”
Dissolution of the partnership with “Gazprom”
Wifa also announced the termination of its partnership “with immediate effect” with the Russian gas giant “Gazprom”, one of its main sponsors since 2012.
The value of the contract was estimated at 40 million euros annually, according to specialized media, and it covered the costs of the European Champions League and international competitions organized by UEFA, in addition to the European Cup hosted by Germany in the year 2024.
And the ancient German Schalke announced the termination of its partnership with Gazprom and Manchester United with the Russian airline Aeroflot.
No Formula in Sochi
After becoming a symbol of Russian “soft power” in the world of sports, Sochi, the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics, will be denied the Formula One Grand Prix, following a decision by the rights owner of the American Liberty Media World Championship.
The Haas team is studying its future relationship with Russian sponsor Uralkali, and the future of Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, son of a Uralkali official, appears ambiguous.
Abramovich’s case
Roman Abramovich has become a key figure on the English football scene in the last 19 years since owning Chelsea and leading it to two Champions League titles. The Russian billionaire has pulled out with an ambiguous and polemical statement granting the power to manage and sponsor the West London Club to his charitable foundation.
As for Monaco, France, it remains secretive about the fate of its billionaire Russian owner, Dmitry Rybolovlev.
In this context, the tennis players and tennis players demanded action. Before her scheduled confrontation with Russian Anastasia Potapova Tuesday in Monterrey.
And Ukrainian Elina Svitolina announced that she would not face any Russian or Belarusian opponent, if their participation was not under a neutral banner.