The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed that the Russian Football Union (RUF) has appealed against its expulsion from world football.
Following its unlawful invasion of Ukraine, Russia was expelled from the forthcoming World Cup playoffs with football associations in their pool expressly stating they would not play a Russian team under any name.
FIFA had originally come up with a plan to allow Russia play Poland under a neutral name and neutral flag at a neutral venue, before taking a hardline stance a day later.
UEFA has also kicked Spartak Moscow out of the Europa League, with RB Leipzig allowed a bye to the quarter-finals instead.
In the wake of the FIFA and UEFA decisions, the RUF reacted angrily, claiming both bodies had acted without "legal basis", and said the unwillingness of the Polish, Czech and Swedish FAs to meet them in the playoffs "violated the principle of sports and the rules of fair play".
All three football associations have been challenged by the RUF in their appeal.
CAS also confirmed that the Russian union has requested a suspension of the punishments while their case is pending. That would effectively allow Russia back into this month's World Cup playoffs, and Spartak a return to the Europa League.
CAS said they will make a decision on a stay in the coming days.
Whatever the CAS decision, April's draw for the group stage of the Qatar World Cup will take place with some holes still to be filled.
Scotland's playoff semi-final with Ukraine at Hampden Park was postponed on Tuesday, following a petition from the invaded country's football association.
That decision will also delay the eventual playoff final meeting of Scotland or Ukraine and Austria or Wales.
CAS statement:
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) registered earlier today the appeals filed by the Football Union of Russia (FUR) against the decisions taken on 28 February 2022 by the Bureau of the FIFA Council (the FIFA appeal) and the UEFA Executive Committee (the UEFA appeal) (collectively, the Challenged Decisions) to suspend all Russian teams and clubs from participation in their respective competitions until further notice.
The FIFA appeal has been filed against Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Polish Football Association, the Swedish Football
Association, the Czech Football Association, the Football Association of Montenegro and the Malta
Football Association.
The UEFA appeal has been filed against UEFA, the Hellenic Football Federation, the Belarus Football
Federation, the Danish Football Association, the Luxembourgish Football Association, the Austrian
Football Association, the Malta Football Association, the Portuguese Football Federation, the English
Football Association, the Spanish Football Association, the Irish Football Association and the French
Football Association.
In its appeals, the FUR requests CAS to set aside the Challenged Decisions and to reinstate all Russian
teams and clubs for participation in FIFA and UEFA competitions. Together with each statement of
appeal, the FUR has also filed a request to stay the execution of each challenged decision.
The CAS Court Office has initiated two separate arbitration procedures and, in accordance with the Code
of Sports-related Arbitration (the arbitration rules governing CAS procedures), will seek the position of
the respondent parties with respect to the FUR’s requests to stay the execution of the Challenged Decisions and as to the organization and planning of each arbitration procedure.
The CAS anticipates being able to share further information on the proceedings through a media release
in a few days’ time, once a decision has been issued with respect to the requests for a stay.
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