Uefa bans Russia from women’s European Championship and World Cup
Portugal will replace Russia for the July 6-31 tournament in England
02 May 2022 - 23:40
byHritika Sharma
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Protesters hold up signs at a protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine. Picture: REUTERS/DILARA SENKAYA
Uefa has banned Russia from the Women’s European Championship in July and from participating in qualifying for next year’s World Cup after the country’s invasion of Ukraine, European soccer’s governing body said on Monday.
Portugal will replace Russia for the July 6-31 tournament in England, having lost to them in the qualifying play-offs. They will join the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland in Group C.
Uefa also ruled Russia’s bid to host the men’s Euros in 2028 and 2032 ineligible, which means Britain and Ireland’s joint bid to host Euro 2028 is rivalled only by Turkey, who also declared an interest in hosting the 2032 tournament.
The governing body said Russia’s bid was ineligible in accordance with its regulations, which states “each bidder shall ensure that it does not act in a manner that could bring Uefa, the Uefa final or Uefa final phase, any other bidder, the bidding procedure or European football into disrepute”.
Additionally, Russian clubs will not compete in Uefa’s Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League next season.
The winners of the Scottish Premiership will take the place of Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg in the 2022/2023 Champions League group stage.
Uefa said in a statement its executive committee took the decisions to “ensure their smooth staging in a safe and secure environment for all those concerned”.
The statement also said Russia will not participate in the Nations League, which begins in June, and will be automatically relegated from their second-tier group.
Uefa and world governing body Fifa suspended Russian clubs and national teams from their competitions until further notice after the invasion of Ukraine.
As a result of the sanctions, German club RB Leipzig advanced to this season’s Europa League quarterfinals at the expense of Russian side Spartak Moscow after their last-16 clash was called off.
In March, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected a request from Russia’s football association to freeze Fifa’s suspension, effectively ending its hopes of competing at the World Cup in Qatar, before the FUR withdrew its appeal.
Several national soccer associations announced they would not play against Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, including those of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Uefa bans Russia from women’s European Championship and World Cup
Portugal will replace Russia for the July 6-31 tournament in England
Uefa has banned Russia from the Women’s European Championship in July and from participating in qualifying for next year’s World Cup after the country’s invasion of Ukraine, European soccer’s governing body said on Monday.
Portugal will replace Russia for the July 6-31 tournament in England, having lost to them in the qualifying play-offs. They will join the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland in Group C.
Uefa also ruled Russia’s bid to host the men’s Euros in 2028 and 2032 ineligible, which means Britain and Ireland’s joint bid to host Euro 2028 is rivalled only by Turkey, who also declared an interest in hosting the 2032 tournament.
The governing body said Russia’s bid was ineligible in accordance with its regulations, which states “each bidder shall ensure that it does not act in a manner that could bring Uefa, the Uefa final or Uefa final phase, any other bidder, the bidding procedure or European football into disrepute”.
Additionally, Russian clubs will not compete in Uefa’s Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League next season.
The winners of the Scottish Premiership will take the place of Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg in the 2022/2023 Champions League group stage.
Uefa said in a statement its executive committee took the decisions to “ensure their smooth staging in a safe and secure environment for all those concerned”.
The statement also said Russia will not participate in the Nations League, which begins in June, and will be automatically relegated from their second-tier group.
Uefa and world governing body Fifa suspended Russian clubs and national teams from their competitions until further notice after the invasion of Ukraine.
As a result of the sanctions, German club RB Leipzig advanced to this season’s Europa League quarterfinals at the expense of Russian side Spartak Moscow after their last-16 clash was called off.
In March, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected a request from Russia’s football association to freeze Fifa’s suspension, effectively ending its hopes of competing at the World Cup in Qatar, before the FUR withdrew its appeal.
Several national soccer associations announced they would not play against Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, including those of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
WTA chief says ban on Russian, Belarusian players breaks the rules
Fina suspends Russian Olympic swimming gold winner Evgeny Rylov
Wimbledon bars Russian and Belarusian tennis players
Global sport shows Russia the door over Ukraine invasion
Uefa moves Champions League final to Paris in wake of Ukraine crisis
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.