The European football governing body, UEFA, is reportedly planning to remove Spartak Moscow from this season’s UEFA Europa League over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Recall that since Thursday, February 24, Ukraine have been under attack by the Russian army. Scores of people’s lives have been lost in the ongoing assault on Ukraine.
Due to Russia’s attacks on the country, there have been a series of sanctions against the country, especially as it concerns football.
In line with that, one of the most dominant clubs in Russia, Spartak Moscow are on the verge of losing their spot in the 2021-2022 Europa League due to the ongoing unrest between Ukraine and Russia.
Before the crisis between the two countries gained world attention, Spartak Moscow have progressed to the round of 16 stage of the Europa League.
Spartak Moscow were scheduled to play the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 game against German club, RB Leipzig, in Germany on Thursday, March 10. The kick-off time for the game is 18:45.
Based on recent reports, the match might not hold as planned since Russia’s assault on Ukraine persists despite the global outcry against it.
Also, reports claimed that UEFA is considering not just canceling the game, but giving RB Leipzig an automatic ticket to the next round of the Europa League.
A statement from RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff read: “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 canceled.”
UEFA is planning to remove Spartak Moscow from this season’s Europa League in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian side have been drawn to play RB Leipzig in the last 16, with the second leg scheduled to be played on March 17. No official confirmation has been made by UEFA.
Aside from the potential sanction of Spartak Moscow, English FA is pushing UEFA and FIFA to ban Russia
Aside from the possibility of Spartak Moscow losing their spot in the 2021-2022 Europa League, the English FA has reportedly held private meetings with UEFA and FIFA to ban Russia from participating in continental and international football tournaments.
This is coming after the football associations in England, Scotland, Wales banned themselves from playing Russia in international football games.
Reports claimed that most European countries are not happy with FIFA’s decision to ban Russia from using Russia’s national anthem, flag, and country’s official name during football games.
Sky Sports reported that the English FA wants FIFA and UEFA to ban Russia from football starting from the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and the forthcoming Women’s Euros.
However, the world football governing body, FIFA, and the European football governing body, UEFA, don’t want to rush to such conclusions since the two tournaments are still months away.
The FIFA World Cup is expected to commence in November 2022 while the women’s UEFA European Championship is expected to commence in July. Between now and then, the crisis between Russia and Ukraine would have been settled and the ban could become unnecessary.
German media reporting that UEFA has removed Spartak Moscow from the Europa League, meaning RB Leipzig get a bye through to the quarter-finals. #RBL
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) February 28, 2022
