Russian Flag Banned From World Cup But Not Team

February 28, 2022 Russia, Sports

FIFA backed away from immediately expelling Russia from World Cup qualifying on Sunday but said it remained an option, deciding instead the squad can play using the “RFU” acronym of its football federation, the Russian Football Union.

The unanimous ruling by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, which includes the six regional football confederation presidents, was also that the Russian flag and anthem can’t be associated with the team.

The decision adopts the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, punishing Russia’s cover-up of the investigation into state-sponsored doping. Under that ruling, the Russians had to compete at the past two Olympics as the Russian Olympic Committee team.

Read the full article.

FIFA has agreed on a range of measures that would take effect for Russia’s crucial World Cup qualifying playoff next month. But the proposals — including a ban on Russia’s name and flag — exclude the all-out ban on Russia’s national team. https://t.co/5OsZty6zdu

— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 27, 2022