The decision means, among other things, that the matches from the play-offs for World Cup qualification will not be played in Moscow in any case. Poland, the first opponent in it, has already refused to play against Russia, regardless of location. The same declared Sweden and the Czech Republic, Russia’s opponents when it beats Poland.
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FIFA is in talks with the football associations of those countries to find a solution. The union does not suspend Russia for the time being. President Putin’s country is no longer allowed to be called Russia, but is described as the Football Association of Russia. Also, the Russian flag will no longer be seen at international matches and the national anthem will no longer be played.
The latter measures resemble the regulations of the International Olympic Committee, which, since a doping scandal, has only welcomed athletes from Russia under the flag of the country’s Olympic committee.
