Ukraine crisis: How has sport reacted to the Ukraine invasion?

Fifa and UefaImage source, Getty Images

Russian football clubs and national teams have been suspended from all competitions after the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Fifa and Uefa, who run world and European football competitions, said they would be banned "until further notice".

It means the Russian men's team will not play their World Cup play-off matches next month and the women's team have been banned from this summer's Euro 2022 competition.

Spartak Moscow have also been kicked out of the Europa League and their last-16 opponents RB Leipzig will advance to the quarter-finals.

What have Fifa and Uefa said?

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

There have been shows of support for Ukraine at football matches since Russia launched its invasion of the country last Thursday. This was at the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday

Fifa and Uefa made their decision after Russia launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last Thursday.

"Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine," Fifa and Uefa said in a joint statement.

Russian football's governing body, the RFU, said it "categorically disagreed" with the decision and would challenge it "in accordance with international sports law".

The Russian men's team had been expected to face Poland in a World Cup play-off semi-final on 24 March.

Both presidents [from Fifa and Uefa] 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.

Fifa and Uefa joint statement
Image source, Quality Sport Images/Getty
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Poland's captain Robert Lewandowski said he couldn't imagine playing against the Russian side while the invasion continues

Spartak Moscow called the decision "upsetting", tweeting: "We believe that sport, even in the most difficult times, should aim to build bridges, and not burn them."

Fifa had previously ruled that Russia must complete their upcoming games in neutral territory, under the title Football Union of Russia, and without their flag and anthem.

However, not everyone was happy with that - and Scotland and the Republic of Ireland joined several other nations, including England, Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden, in refusing to play against Russia.

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Champions League final moved to Paris

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Uefa has also ended its sponsorship deal with Russian energy company Gazprom

Uefa, the group which runs the Champions League, had already announced that the 2022 Champions League final will now be played in France instead of Russia.

The match was supposed to take place in the Russian city of St Petersburg on 28 May.

It will now be played in the French capital Paris, in the Stade de France stadium.

Following Uefa's move, a Russian government spokesperson said: "It's a shame that such a decision has been made."

What has been the reaction in other sports?

Formula 1 Grand Prix

Image source, Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty
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The Russian Grand Prix was due to take place on 25 September in Sochi

The Formula 1 Grand Prix that was supposed to be held on 25 September in the Russian city of Sochi has now been cancelled.

In a statement, F1 said they'd agreed "that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances".

They they were sad and shocked by what is happening in Ukraine, and they hoped the situation would be resolved peacefully soon.

Rugby

World Rugby has suspended Russia and Belarus from international competition "until further notice".

"We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine," said chairman Bill Beaumont.

On Friday, it was announced by Rugby Europe that all fixtures on Russian soil would be suspended, a move backed by the world governing body.

Ski World Cups

Image source, TOBIAS SCHWARZ/Getty
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The Japanese Ski team, pictured here at the recent Beijing Winter Olympics, had already pulled out of the events

Five World Cup events due to take place in Russia have been cancelled, the International Ski Federation (FIS) have announced.

The Ski Cross World Cup and Aerials World Cup were supposed to be held this weekend in Sunny Valley and Yaroslavl in Russia.

Two Ski Jumping World Cup events in Nizhny Tagil and Chaikovsky were due to take place in March, and Tyumen was going to host the Cross Country World Cup.

"FIS has decided that in the interest of the safety of all participants and to maintain the integrity of the World Cup, that all remaining World Cup events scheduled to take place in Russia between now and the end of the 2021-22 season will be cancelled or moved to another location," FIS said in a statement.