UEFA Expelled From Europa League, Russian Club Spartak Moscow Disappointed And Turns Focus To Domestic Competition

Pelatih Spartak Moscow, Paolo Vanoli (Twitter.com/@fcsm_eng)

JAKARTA - The Russian football club, Spartak Moscow, admitted that they were disappointed with the decision by FIFA and UEFA to unilaterally exclude the Russian national team and domestic clubs from all competitions under the two soccer bodies.

The strong reason for the exclusion of the Russian national team and domestic clubs from a number of competitions is considered a form of sanctions from the invasion by President Vladimir Putin's country against Ukraine.

In response to this, Spartak Moscow expressed their disappointment. Through the club's official Twitter account, they called the decision taken by UEFA to be unfair, because the football club had no direct relationship in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“Disappointing decision,” Spartak Moscow wrote on Twitter Tuesday, March 1.

"We believe that sport, even in the most difficult times, should aim to build good relationships and not injure them."

"We will focus on domestic competitions and hope that peace can be achieved," Spartak Moscow said in a statement.

FIFA and UEFA itself officially suspended the Russian national team and clubs from all competitions under the auspices of the two football bodies on Monday, 28 February.

The decision was FIFA and UEFA's response to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine. Regarding the application of the suspension, the two soccer bodies are also not sure how long the ban will be applied.

"FIFA and UEFA have today jointly decided that all Russian teams, both national and club representative teams, will be suspended from participation in FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice," the world and European football bodies said in a joint statement.

This UEFA decision then clearly made Spartak Moscow have to be kicked out of the last 16 of the Europa League. Whereas previously, they had been scheduled to compete against RB Leipzig on 11 and 17 March.