FIFA and UEFA cut the knot: Russia can forget the World Cup in Qatar, the deal with Gazprom has also been canceled | The conflict in Ukraine

The decision was taken jointly by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee. “We are united and want to express our full solidarity with the people of Ukraine,” he wrote on the two organizations’ website.

The decision has dire consequences for the world of football in the short term. For example, Russian club Spartak Moscow no longer plays in the European League this season. Germany’s RB Leipzig thus gets a free move to the quarter-finals.

The Russian national team can also write the World Cup next fall in Qatar on its stomach. The Russians hadn’t gotten that ticket yet, but they managed to qualify through the jumps.

The opponent in the semi-finals was usually Poland, and it is not yet clear whether Lewandowski and his companions are already sure of their place in the final in the innings. The final decision will follow later. Poland had announced earlier that it did not want to play against Russia in any way.

In addition, UEFA has terminated the sponsorship contract with the Russian gas company Gazprom. There were already rumors, but now the organization has officially announced it.

“The decision is effective immediately and affects all existing commitments in the Champions League, international matches and Euro 2024,” a short statement read.

Earlier today, former German club Schalke 04 had already severed its long-standing ties with the company, which is partly controlled by the Russian state.

The partnership between UEFA and Gazprom has been in operation since 2012 and its end means a financial drain on UEFA. The bail contract was estimated at about 40 million euros annually.

Earlier, UEFA decided to remove the Champions League final from Saint Petersburg. The final will now take place on May 28, 2022 at the Stade de France in Paris.