Football’s world governing body FIFA is in advanced talks over the suspension of Russia’s national teams from international competition.

Officials are working with the sport’s European body UEFA ahead of an expected decision later on Monday.

The suspension would cover all Russian national teams – the women’s side are due to play in UEFA’s Euro 2022 competition in England in July.

It would also mean Russia would be unable to play their World Cup play-off fixture against Poland on 24 March and would therefore make the country unable to qualify for the finals in Qatar in November.

The Polish FA has said it will refuse to allow its national team to play against Russia following the invasion into Ukraine.

The Czech Republic and Sweden, who are in the same play-off ‘path’, have also ruled out facing Russia.

FIFA was criticised on Sunday after a statement that Russia could continue to play matches in neutral venues and only under the name ‘Football Union of Russia’.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says World Cup every two years could mean African migrants ‘don’t need to die in the sea’

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini: Former FIFA and UEFA officials charged with fraud

FIFA condemns crowd trouble at Wembley Stadium after Hungary fans clash with police during England game

Although FIFA had warned the country could be excluded from competitions if the situation in Ukraine did not improve, the statement was widely criticised with the Polish FA saying the stance was “totally unacceptable”.

England’s FA said the national side would not play Russia “for the forseeable future” – a view that was backed up by a number of European federations.

Russia hosted the last World Cup in 2018 with the final held in Moscow – a match attended by President Vladimir Putin.

It comes as sporting bodies moved to bar Russian athletes from competing in international events.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials.

Athletes from Ukraine and other nations had called on the IOC to take action after Russia launched its invasion by land, air and sea last week.

The IOC said on Monday its executive board made the decision “in order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants”.

The Russian Olympic Committee disagreed with the IOC, saying the decision “contradicts both the regulatory documents of the IOC and the (Olympic) Charter”.

The IOC’s statement came shortly before the Winter Paralympics, which start in Beijing on Friday.

The International Paralympic Committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss Russia ahead of the Games.

Related posts:

Briton jailed for sneaking out of Singapore quarantine hotel room Saudi crown prince approved operation to ‘capture or kill’ Jamal Khashoggi, says US intelligence report Russian trials show Sputnik V vaccine performs well against COVID variants Migrants resorting to treacherous night hikes through Alps to escape to new lives Arrests after police raid home stadium of Spanish football giants Barcelona Lionel Messi’s welcome package at PSG includes cryptocurrency fan tokens UK to deploy 600 troops to Afghanistan to help evacuate Britons British hiker ‘fell 100ft to her death after slipping in worn shoes’ Magnitude 7 earthquake hits western Haiti as people flee their homes Greece investigates plane crash that killed witness in Netanyahu corruption trial Southern France lashed by heavy rain, thunder and flooding Satellite images show Tonga covered in ash after volcanoc eruption