Russia could miss the World Cup

FIFA has the necessary legal resources protected by its laws to, if it deems appropriate, severely punish Russia and even expel its Federation from the Qatar 2022 World Cup. (it will play a play-off against Poland next March) in retaliation for the recent invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army. “Although FIFA rules do not explicitly mention war as a reason to sanction any of its federations, they do. This includes provisions which can be interpreted that the outbreak of war will enter.”start explaining Toni Roca, director Sports Law Institute.

The exceptions Toni Roca spoke of included, for example, in article 4 of the FIFA Statutes, where the organization states that “discrimination against a country, individual or group of people on grounds of race, color (…), and will be punished with suspension or expulsion. ”, reads the text which, in article 4.2, confirms that “FIFA declares itself neutral on political and religious matters”, although “exceptions are considered in cases where they affect the objectives of FIFA legislation”.

History of Yugoslavia and the United Nations

The most recent and almost unique example of a similar conflict with sanctions being imposed on a country’s football federation was experienced with Yugoslavia in 1992, when he was expelled from playing Euro that year was played in Sweden because of the Balkan Wars. Denmark, his successor days before the tournament started, finally became champions. Although in that case FIFA, then led by Blatter, had little interest in punishing Yugoslavia, he had no choice but to apply a veto after the United Nations Security Council agreed to block the sport.

“Now the scenario is different. First, because Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and, therefore, is one of the veto-wielding countries.. I can’t imagine Russia giving the green light to punish this order against itself”, Roca analysis. “Furthermore, Russia’s weight on the international geopolitical scene is less than what Yugoslavia had at the time. It was easier to punish Yugoslavia in 1992 than to sanction Russia now in 2022”, he analyzes.