Russia and Belarus have been banned from qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, FIFA has announced. The decision was made by FIFA’s Bureau of the Council on Monday, following recommendations from the organization’s Disciplinary Committee..
The ban means that Russia and Belarus will not be able to participate in the upcoming European qualifiers for the World Cup, which are scheduled to begin in March. The two countries will also be excluded from the play-offs in November, which will determine the final three European teams to qualify for the tournament in Qatar..
FIFA’s decision is the latest in a series of sanctions that have been imposed on Russia and Belarus following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The two countries have also been suspended from international football competitions by UEFA, the European governing body for football..
The ban on Russia and Belarus is likely to have a significant impact on the World Cup qualifying process. Russia is the current runner-up in the FIFA World Rankings, and Belarus is ranked 88th. The absence of these two teams from the qualifying process will make it easier for other teams to qualify for the tournament..
The decision to ban Russia and Belarus from the World Cup has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised the decision, saying that it sends a strong message of solidarity with Ukraine. Others have criticized the decision, saying that it is unfair to punish athletes for the actions of their governments..
FIFA has said that it will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and that it will review the ban on Russia and Belarus in due course..
