CAS supports FIFA & UEFA decision to ban Russia

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed the decision of FIFA and UEFA to ban the

and its clubs from participating in the competition.

Both governing bodies decided to ban Russia teams from the competition after the country invaded Ukraine in February. After the Russian national team was prevented from participating in the Qatar World Cup qualifiers and the country's clubs from participating in European competitions, the Russian Football Federation decided to file a complaint with the CAS court. However, the CAS supported UEFA's decision and FIFA paid and decided to continue the sanctions.

CAS' statement reads: 

"In determining that Russian teams and clubs should not participate in competitions under their aegis while such circumstances persisted, the panel held that both parties acted within the scope of the discretion granted to them under their respective statutes and regulations.

"In so holding, the Panel found it unnecessary to characterise the nature of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but only to focus on the consequences of such conflict for the competitions affected.

"The panel finds it unfortunate that the current military operations in Ukraine, for which Russian football teams, clubs, and players have themselves no responsibility, had, by reason of the decisions of FIFA and UEFA, such an adverse effect on them and Russian football generally, but those effects were, in the panel’s view, offset by the need for the secure and orderly conduct of football events for the rest of the world."

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