Dhe world football association Fifa and the European football association UEFA exclude Russian teams from all competitions. The associations report this. In addition, UEFA has announced an end to its sponsorship deal with Russian energy giant Gazprom. “The decision is effective immediately and covers all existing contracts, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA national team competitions and UEFA EURO 2024,” read a statement. The deal has been in effect since 2012 and is expected to cost around €40m per season Gazprom has not issued a statement.
FIFA and UEFA said their decision was “until further notice” but meant the 2018 World Cup hosts would definitely miss the finals in Qatar. Russia would have played Poland in the World Cup play-offs on March 24 However, the Polish FA had already ruled out taking part in the match, and the football federations of Denmark, Norway and Switzerland, along with the opponents in the World Cup playoffs – Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden, also announced such a move.
FIFA only decided on Sunday that Russia would no longer be allowed to host international football competitions on its own territory. Home games of the Sbornaja should therefore only take place on neutral ground and without spectators. Now the world association intends to impose even tougher sanctions on the country.
After the exclusion of Russian teams, RB Leipzig moved into the quarter-finals of the Europa League without a fight. There will be no substitute opponent, which means that the Bundesliga runners-up are automatically in the last eight.
Leipzig had previously been relegated from the Champions League as third in the group and had prevailed against Real Sociedad San Sebastian in the second round of the Europa League.
