As global condemnation continues against Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sporting bodies continue to call off events scheduled in Russia. European football body UEFA has already moved the Champions League final out of Russia, while the Formula One governing body said it would be impossible to host the annual race there in the current circumstances.
Now, the football associations of Sweden, Poland and Czech Republic have said that they will not play the World Cup qualifiers scheduled for March in Russia.
Russia are due to host Poland in World Cup play-off semi-finals on March 24th. Should they win they are currently scheduled to host either Sweden or Czech Republic on March 29th.
"The Football Associations of Poland (PZPN), Sweden (SvFF) and Czech Republic (FACR) express their firm position that the playoff matches... should not be played in the territory of the Russian Federation," they said in a joint statement.
"The military escalation that we are observing entails serious consequences and considerably lower safety for our national football teams and official delegations."
So far, FIFA has not responded to the joint statement and has only called for "rapid cessation of hostilities and peace in Ukraine". It also added that regarding the hosting of football events, it would monitor the situation.
"FIFA condemns the use of force by Russia in Ukraine and any type of violence to resolve conflicts," the statement read.
"Violence is never a solution and FIFA calls on all parties to restore peace through constructive dialogue. FIFA also continues to express its solidarity to the people affected by this conflict.
"Regarding football matters in both Ukraine and Russia, FIFA will continue to monitor the situation and updates in relation to the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers will be communicated in due course."
In all likeliness, unless the Russian side is banned from playing, the matches could be held in a neutral venue or even at home of the opponent countries. And if Russia is banned, the teams will receive walkovers to advance.
Will FIFA ban Russia from the World Cup?
Though the world body has not imposed any sanctions on Russia, it is a delicate situation as FIFA, UEFA and other bodies have numerous sponsorship deals with Russian firms, including that of the state-run Gazprom.
Russia is technically already banned from competing at the Qatar World Cup under its flag and name because of a doping ban issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency. It is still unclear whether athletes who proved themselves clean can participate in the tournament under a neutral flag like the Russian athletes do at the Olympics.
Nevertheless, there is precedent for FIFA banning countries from the World Cup for non-sporting reasons, most notably the exclusion of Japan and Germany from the 1950 World Cup, the first tournament after the Second World War. Italy, however, was allowed to compete in that edition as its government was overthrown, and the new government sided with the Allies.
Another major ban was that of South Africa, for three decades until 1990 because of the apartheid law in the country. FIFA barred the nation from the World Cup and the CAF barred them from the Cup of Nations from 1959 to 1992.
The Abramovich question
Another much-discussed fallout of the war is the implications it could have on the ownership of Champions League holders Chelsea. No European team is linked to Russia like Chelsea is. The London club is bankrolled by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who has close ties to Vladimir Putin.
In 2018, Abramovich withdrew his application for a new UK investor visa, amid worsening relations between the UK and Russia. Abramovich has an Israeli passport and has since travelled to the UK using that. Last November, he attended his first Chelsea match at Stamford Bridge in more than three years and he has continued to give the club huge financial backing.
This week, he was named in the UK Parliament as an MP called for sanctions to be imposed on him and for him to be disqualified as an owner of the team. Chris Bryant suggested that the UK should seize Abramovich’s assets and bar him from owning Chelsea.
Abramovich has reportedly denied any links to Putin. But with the big question of whether the much-loved owner will be asked to sell looming over the club’s head, team manager Thomas Tuchel has said that the players are worried.
Among other teams, German side Schalke 04 has already said that it will be ending its major sponsorship with Gazprom, while Manchester United announced the end of the deal with Russian airline Aeroflot.
Meanwhile, two Russian clubs were still in contention for a trophy in the UEFA Europa League—Zenit St. Petersburg, Putin’s favorite team, was knocked out of the tournament this week, but Spartak Moscow is still in contention. It is currently unclear how Spartak will get to play its matches.
While the Russian domestic league is continuing with its games, the Ukrainian football association has halted the current season, with players being asked to return home to their families.
More sanctions and termination of deals by the rest of Europe, and possibly even FIFA, can be expected as the war progresses.
