Russia banned from all FIFA and UEFA competitions over Ukraine invasion

Russia have been suspended from all FIFA and UEFA competitions, the governing bodies have announced in a joint statement.

This followed a decision announced yesterday from FIFA, that Russia must play international matches in neutral countries without supporters.

The country will also have to play under the name “Football Union of Russia” and not as “Russia” under new measures issued in response to the Ukraine crisis.

FIFA has also ruled that no Russian flag or national anthem can be used.

Football associations across the world have also taken a strong stance on Russia since its attack, with England among a number of nations confirming it would refuse to play them "for the foreseeable future."

“Out of solidarity with Ukraine and to wholeheartedly condemn the atrocities being committed by the Russian leadership, the FA can confirm that we won’t play against Russia in any international fixtures for the foreseeable future", an FA statement read.

“This includes any potential match at any level of senior, age group or para football.”

The International Olympic Committee’s executive board issued a recommendation to international sports federations earlier today to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes, officials and teams from international competitions wherever possible.

The joint statement between FIFA and UEFA read: “Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice.

“These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters.

“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people.”