FIFA may make an announcement at its congress on Thursday
UEFA and the South American Football Federation, CONMEBOL, would support a “tough alternative” when the FIFA Council meets to discuss the expulsion of the Russian Football Federation (RFU) on Wednesday, according to a report claiming that FIFA President Gianni Infantino is “inclined” to suspend Russia’s membership in a new sanction following the start of the attack on Ukraine.
The Council’s official agenda for the meeting, which was held a day before FIFA’s 72nd Congress in Doha, the capital of the World Cup host Qatar, lists “suspension or expulsion of a member association” among the points of discussion.
Infantino and the Asian and African Football Associations are said to be in favor of suspending Russia’s membership, Matcha TV has said and quoted unnamed experts who suggest that UEFA and CONMEBOL can support a full expulsion.
Russian and Belarusian teams were suspended from all FIFA and UEFA competitions in February after the start of the military offensive in Ukraine.
The 2018 World Cup hosts did not host Poland in their planned play-off semi-final on March 24, when the victory would have sent them to a final against Sweden in Moscow five days later.
A sports tribunal has ruled that the suspension will not be revoked, although Russia’s manager Valeri Karpin remains hopeful that his team’s qualifying bids will be allowed to resume when the court decides on the legal basis for the suspension.
RFU will reportedly be suspended from international matches and monitor transfers under the restrictions justified by either potential results of the council meeting.
Although he said Infantino would not sway against deportation, the agency added that the president’s stance could be affected by the criminal investigation he has been facing in Switzerland since July 2020.
Infantino is the subject of a criminal report of three undocumented meetings that he is alleged to have held with Switzerland’s former Minister of Justice, Michael Lauber, in 2016 and 2017. Lauber is also under investigation.
The FIFA chief is suspected of having sought information about investigations into FIFA and former heads of organizations, potentially with the intention of influencing the course of these cases.
Match said a “softer” decision on Russia’s membership could increase Infantino’s risk of tougher action by the Swiss judiciary because the state has an “anti-Russian political agenda”.
No Russian representatives should have been accredited for the congress. Alexei Sorokin, the former director general of the organizing committee for the 2018 World Cup, and a group of Russian specialists related to that tournament are reportedly in Qatar.
Local dignitary Alexey Sorokin told the newspaper on Monday that he saw no reason for a temporary or permanent removal of Russia’s FIFA membership.
Sorokin said the RFU needed to communicate with international federations and build relationships, adding that he expected UEFA to compensate Russia for the move of the Champions League final in May from St. Petersburg. Petersburg to Paris.
Karpin spoke on Monday about his hope that Russia would soon return to the international football arena.
“The situation changes every day,” said the former national team player about the playoffs, where Poland – who got a bye – will meet Sweden on Tuesday in the final that could have been with Russia.
(RT.com)