Russian football clubs, national teams banned from int'l games for attacking Ukraine

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Top regulatory authorities governing global and European football have suspended Russian clubs and national teams from international games amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

"All Russian clubs and national teams are suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice," the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) said in a statement on Monday.

It said that the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and UEFA took a joint decision as they suspended all Russian teams' participation in international football competitions until further notice.

"Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine," UEFA added.

Moscow’s war on Ukraine entered its fifth day on Monday, with the latest reports indicating that Russian troops were heading toward the capital, Kyiv.

The war has been met by outrage from the international community, with the EU, UK, Japan, and US implementing a range of economic sanctions on Russia.

At least 102 civilians have so far been killed in Ukraine and more than 500,000 others have fled the country, according to UN officials.

Ukraine says more than 350 civilians have been killed and over 1,600 injured during attacks by Russian forces.