Russia-Ukraine War – Latest News: Sweden Won’t Play Russia, Judo World Reacts

0h55: This is the end of this live

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0:50 a.m .: Sweden in turn refuses to face Russia in the World Cup play-offs

The Swedish football federation reaffirmed on Sunday evening its refusal to meet Russia in the 2022 World Cup play-offs after Fifa’s decision to organize Russia’s matches under neutral ground and banner. “We have previously made it known that we do not want to confront (Russia) in these circumstances” of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, “and this remains the case until further notice,” said the president of the federation. Karl-Erik Nilsson in a statement to the media.

9:11 p.m .: FIFA forces Russia to play under neutral banner for World Cup play-offs

The International Football Federation (FIFA) imposed Sunday on Russia to play its matches under a neutral banner and to play its home matches outside its territory, following the invasion of Ukraine.

8:30 p.m.: Medvedev’s strong message

The future world No. 1 posted a very strong message on his Instagram account this Sunday. The Muscovite appealed for peace.

7:53 p.m .: Jakobsen: “In Ukraine, people like me are fighting for freedom”

Like Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) on Saturday after his victory over Het Nieuwsblad, Fabio Jakobsen, who raised his arms over Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, had a thought for Ukraine. “My mind and thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and Eastern Europe, said the Dutchman. Let’s hope this doesn’t go any further and we get peace there. I am 25 years old, I am fighting on my bike for a victory and there are people my age who are fighting for freedom and their lives.”

5:58 p.m .: Tribute to Ukraine before the Carabao Cup final

The English Football League Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool on Sunday was preceded by a minute of applause in solidarity with Ukraine. The captains of both teams, including Chelsea, which is still owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, wore wreaths of blue and yellow flowers, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, as they entered the pitch. They put it at their feet before the tribute of the whole stadium, whose luminous panels on the edge of the field were also in blue and yellow, as were the display screens. (With AFP)

5:36 p.m.: Chelsea show their support for Ukraine

4:11 p.m .: Oscar Garcia supports the action of the Stade de Reims

Reims coach Oscar Garcia showed at a press conference his support for the action orchestrated by Reims President Jean-Pierre Caillot before the match, namely to delay the entry of players and the kick-off, in support to the Ukrainian people. “Everyone agreed. The president took care of that. He spoke with Monaco, the referee and the delegates. That’s how it happened.”, he simply explained.

4:05 p.m .: Philippe Clement (AS Monaco): “There is not a man in the whole club who wants war”

After his team’s defeat against Reims (1-2), the Belgian Philippe Clement spoke about the Reims action before the meeting, namely the delay of the kick-off by a few minutes to express his support for the Ukraine, and indirectly target the Russian leadership of Monaco. “We were surprised. When there are actions like that, it must be said before. Because everything is regulated by the minute. We were informed really tard”, regretted the Monegasque coach, before assuring the position of the ASM on this conflict. “On the background? There ain’t a man in the whole club that wants war.”

3:14 p.m .: Bordeaux wears an armband in the colors of Ukraine

The Girondins de Bordeaux are wearing an armband in the colors of Ukraine this afternoon. After Josuha Guilavogui’s opener this Sunday in Clermont, all the Bordeaux players went to celebrate with their Ukrainian teammate Danylo Ignatenko.

1:59 p.m .: The FFF and Le Graët lean “for an exclusion of Russia at the next World Cup”

1:42 p.m .: Ukrainian Svitolina calls for saving Ukraine on Eurosport

Currently in Mexico where she is to play a tournament next week, Elina Svitolina gave an interview to Eurosport to mobilize opinion on the war between her country and Russia. The Ukrainian, who will give her next tournament winnings to help her compatriots, tells the story of what her loved ones who have remained behind are going through and hopes that world tennis will mobilize. Full interview can be found here:

1:03 p.m .: Kick-off for Monaco-Reims postponed at the request of the Reims

To symbolize his support for the Ukrainian people, and indirectly send a message to the Russian presidency of AS Monaco, the president of the Stade de Reims Jean-Pierre Caillot asked to postpone the kick-off of Monaco-Reims (1 p.m.) from a few minutes : “Despite all the respect I have for the Monaco club and for its leaders, we had to symbolically show that we were totally in disagreement with the acts of war carried out by Russia there.. Oscar Garcia’s men therefore waited a few minutes in the hallway of the Louis-II stadium before going out into the tunnel and starting the game normally. For Monaco, whose President Dmitry Rybolovlev is targeted for his supposed proximity to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is there a greater risk to be feared? Our journalists answer it on video.

12:23 p.m .: Andrey Rublev gives a layer in favor of “peace”

Winner of the Dubai tennis tournament on Saturday, Russian Andrey Rublev had already written “No war please” on the camera filming the court after his qualification for the final. The day after his victory, the 24-year-old posted a new message calling for peace. “Today it’s not about tennis. It’s not about sports. It’s about keeping the peace in the world. We need to support each other“, can we read in his message.

11:30 am: The Czech Republic in turn refuses to play against Russia

After Poland and Sweden, it is the Czech Republic’s turn to announce its refusal to potentially play against the Russian football team in the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup. announced this morning via a press release. “The Czech national team will not play a possible match against Russia in the World Cup play-offs under any circumstances“, can we read in the said press release. Official sanctions from FIFA are still awaited.

10:14 am: The International Judo Federation (IJF) “suspends” the status of honorary president of Vladimir Putin

“Given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of the status of Mr. Vladimir Putin as Honorary President and Ambassador of the Federation“, writes the IJF in a press release. An accomplished judoka – he is 8th dan, one of the highest grades in the discipline – the Russian president willingly displays his sporting character and has often promoted a healthy lifestyle. (With AFP)

9:23 am: Ukrainian boxer Viktor Postol greeted by his opponent

In Las Vegas, American Gary Antuanne Russell won in the super-lightweight category ahead of former Ukrainian world champion Viktor Postol. The latter, who had mentioned before his fight the difficulty of concentrating because of the Russian invasion in his country, was greeted by his opponent of the day. “I take my hat off to him“said Russell, “He has his family at home, there are bombings. His country is at war“.

8:41 am: Abramovich leaves the reins of Chelsea

8:00 a.m.: A new live on the Russia-Ukraine war