Russian occupants invade Ukraine: how it has affected the world of football

In 2014, the Russian Federation annexed Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk – which are the territories of sovereign Ukraine – using the army and bandit formations and holding falsified referendums to join Russia and create unrecognised states. There was a crisis in those lands for eight years, which was softened by the Minsk agreements. On the night of February 24, Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in violation of these agreements. 

We will tell you how the war has affected European and world football.

• After Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced martial law following the invasion, the country’s Premier League was paused. 

The suspension will last for a minimum of 30 days, with the league having been set to return on Friday following their winter break. That restart has now been delayed for at least a month as Ukraine battles to fight off the Russians, but some of the teams will not be evacuating. 

“I will not leave Kyiv and return to Romania, I am not a coward, I hope this war started by people with no brains will be stopped as soon as possible. I never thought it possible that this war would start.”

Dynamo Kyiv manager Mirceu Lucescu said. 

• The Polish, Swedish and Czech FAs have issued a joint official statement: they refuse to play in Russia in the play-off matches of the World Cup qualifiers on the basis of the safety of their players and staff. Many other countries are expected to join them.

“Based on the current alarming development in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine including the security situation, the Football Associations of Poland, Sweden, and Czech Republic express their firm position that the play-off matches to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, scheduled for 24 and 29 March 2022, should not be played in the territory of the Russian Federation. The signatories do not consider travelling to Russia and playing football matches there. The military escalation that we are observing entails serious consequences and considerably lower safety for our national football teams and official delegations. Therefore, we expect FIFA and UEFA to react immediately and to present alternative solutions regarding places where these approaching play-off matches could be played.”

said in a joint letter issued on Thursday.

Poland are scheduled to travel to Russia on March 24, with either Sweden or Czech Republic then playing in Moscow on March 29, should Russia win.

Cezary Kulesza, the head of the Polish FA: 

“No more words, time to act! Due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine, the Polish national team does not intend to play the play-off match against Russia. This is the only right decision. We are in talks with the federations of Sweden and the Czech Republic to bring forward a common position to FIFA.”

Captain Robert Lewandowski was quick to back the decision to refuse to play Russia in their upcoming World Cup play-off.

“It is the right decision! I can’t imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues. Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can’t pretend that nothing is happening.”

striker wrote.

Other players have also spoken out:

Swedish Football Association chairman Karl-Erik Nilsson said: 

“The illegal and deeply unjust invasion of Ukraine currently makes all football exchanges with Russia impossible. We therefore urge FIFA to decide that the playoff matches in March in which Russia participates will be cancelled. But regardless of what FIFA chooses to do, we will not play against Russia in March.”

In addition, the Swedish federation has called on FIFA to cancel the March play-off matches involving Russia.

“It is hard to believe that FIFA will not grant our request. Russia cannot join while this madness continues,”

Swedish federation president Karl-Erik Nilsson said.

The Swedish Football Federation clarifies in a statement that the decision to refuse a potential match with Russia was taken for moral reasons against the backdrop of the events in Ukraine and for safety reasons – the Swedes are unsure about the safety of games against Russia, including on a neutral ground.”

the federation’s official website wrote on 26 February.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Thursday evening that: 

“We continue to monitor the situation. We will update on the World Cup qualifiers soon. We can take decisions immediately as soon as it’s needed.”

FIFA’s official response and decision on the issue is not known as of now.

• Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea, has been banned from entering the UK. His assets have been frozen.

“During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the Club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities. I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC. I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the Club, players, staff, and fans.”

his words are quoted on the official website.

Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 for 140 million pounds. Under him, the team have won 21 trophies. It was previously reported that various foreign investors want to buy the London club. Chelsea are valued at €1.9bn.

• The EU has imposed sanctions on many Russian companies, including Russian Railways, Rostec and VEB Bank, VTB bank, Bank Otkritie.

The clubs owned by these firms – Spartak Moscow, CSKA and Arsenal Tula, Dynamo Moscow, Lokomotiv – have thus been affected. It is likely that the same fate awaits many other clubs in the Russian Premier League, and may go so far as to exclude them from the Eurocups.

• Many clubs around the world are organising actions in support of the Ukrainian people.

“What would you do if someone abroad attacked the UK? It’s how he feels. It’s a worry, what we feel with our country where we were born. Killing innocent people, how would you feel? I guess that’s how he feels. Of course it’s close to him. Of course he has our support. It happened in the country he was born, he loves, it’s attacked from the outside. He’s tough and knows we are here.”

Pep Guardiola has voiced his support for Oleksandr Zinchenko and his compatriots who play in EPL.

• UEFA has taken the decision to move the 2022 Champions League final from Saint Petersburg, Russia to an alternative venue.

Uefa also ordered Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams to play their home matches away from the region “until further notice”

• Schalke 04 statement confirms they will immediately remove the logo of Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom from its jerseys. Main sponsor will be removed with immediate effect. 

Similar actions have also been taken by many other clubs across Europe. Uefa is looking to end its major £30m-a-year sponsorship deal with Russian state-run gas giant Gazprom

• Manchester United have terminated their sponsorship deal with Russia’s national airline Aeroflot.