UEFA has excluded the Russian club side Spartak Moscow from the Europa League round of 16. RB Leipzig’s Europa League clash with Spartak Moscow will be canceled, according to Sport Bild.
Spartak will be thrown out of the tournament due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This means that Leipzig will automatically advance to the quarter-finals.
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A statement from RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said: “We continue to be in close contact with the associations and have complete confidence in UEFA and their decision. We assume the games will be cancelled.”
Spartak progressed to the knockout stages after winning Group C, which also included Leicester.
They lost 4-3 at home to the Foxes – with Patson Daka scoring all of the Premier League side’s goals – before playing a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium.
The decision has been made “out of solidarity with Ukraine and to wholeheartedly condemn the atrocities being committed by the Russian leadership”, the English FA said in a statement.
This also includes playing against any side under the guise of ‘Football Union of Russia’, after FIFA set out a series of measures in response to the ongoing crisis.
FIFA has also warned Russia they will be banned from all international football if the war does not stop.
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Following a meeting of the FIFA Council on Sunday, it was confirmed:
- Russia cannot play any FIFA matches in Russia
- Russia cannot call itself Russia and will be called ‘Football Union of Russia’
- No flag or anthem of Russia will be used in matches where teams from the Football Union of Russia participate
- The next step is to ban Russia from competitions “should the situation not be improving rapidly”
A statement read: “FIFA will continue its ongoing dialogue with the IOC, UEFA and other sport organisations to determine any additional measures or sanctions, including a potential exclusion from competitions, that shall be applied in the near future should the situation not be improving rapidly.”
Photo Credit: Getty
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