Berlin, March 8, (dpa/GNA) – The Russian Football Union (RFU) is appealing its suspensions from FIFA and UEFA competitions, including the World Cup play-offs this month, over the invasion of Ukraine, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said Tuesday.
The RFU is seeking to “reinstate all Russian teams and clubs for participation in FIFA and UEFA competitions,” the CAS said, and has “also filed a request to stay the execution of each challenged decision.”
The CAS said it will “seek the position of the respondent parties” with respect to requests to stay the decisions and it “anticipates being able to share further information on the proceedings through a media release in a few days’ time.”
Russia has effectively been banned from the World Cup later this year by the suspension imposed by global football governing body FIFA.
They were supposed to host Poland in the semi-final of their play-off path on March 24, but the Poles and their potential opponents in the final, Sweden and the Czech Republic, said they would refuse to play Russia five days later.
Several other football federations said they would also not play matches against Russia at any level.
European ruling body UEFA’s suspension, mainly impacts Spartak Moscow this season, as they were due to play Bundesliga side, RB Leipzig, in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday.
Spartak’s suspension has handed Leipzig a quarter-final berth, now pending the result of the RFU appeal.
Dozens of sporting bodies have sanctioned Russia due to the war in Ukraine, with several moving events from the country or suspending athletes from competition. Others still permit Russians to compete but as neutral athletes.
GNA