The international players union (FIFPRO) has requested through a statement the tightening of sanctions on Russia after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The footballers union has demanded to suspend the Russian federation and all its member teams until peace is restored.
This is the FIFPRO statement:
“On the fifth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, FIFPRO strongly disagrees with the decision of the FIFA Council Bureau, which fails to protect players or provide clear leadership for our sport by imposing the slightest of sanctions on the Russian Football Federation (RFS).Based on the actions of
Russia in recent weeks, the participation of their teams in UEFA or FIFA competitions or the fulfillment of their executive functions in football are not a possibility.
FIFPRO supports all football players and organizations around the world who choose not to play against Russian teams in this distressing time we live in. Our unions in Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic are in direct contact with the players, whose position not to play, no matter where,
stand firm. Many other players and unions around the world have expressed their support. Therefore, we call for the RFS to be suspended with immediate effect until peace, security and the rule of law are restored.
Russia’s aggression and the united response of democracies around the world have shown that the defense of human dignity and the rule of law is being tested. Football, and sport, has its own responsibility to respond to that. Its past policies of political neutrality have not stood the test of time, and today they must mark a turning point in how sport relates to society, how it defends democracy and human rights. A new, consistently applied approach, based on the proclaimed values of sport, is urgently needed.
Finally, we call for increased support for global efforts to evacuate innocent people caught in the middle of this war. Hundreds of thousands of people who want to leave Ukraine, including members of our unions, and we call for continued and increased cooperation to help their evacuation.”
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