No international soccer matches will be played in Russia, and the country's flag and anthem will be banned from any of their matches abroad, after governing body FIFA imposed sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine.
FIFA says the national team will not compete as Russia, but as the Football Union of Russia (RFU) and any games would be held with no fans on "neutral territory".
These come as sports federations and clubs cancel competitions in Russia or refuse to face Russian teams in protest of the invasion.
The Czech Republic, Poland and Sweden say their national teams will not contest World Cup qualifiers against Russia next month. England's Football Association also says its national team will not play any matches against Russia "for the foreseeable future".
"First and foremost, FIFA would like to reiterate its condemnation of the use of force by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine," says the international body.
The International Olympic Committee has urged international sports federations to either move or cancel events planned in Russia or Belarus. Russian troops entered Ukraine through Belarus, when the invasion began.
FIFA will try to find a solution with the three countries - Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic - involved in the World Cup qualifiers.
"[FIFA] has already engaged in dialogue with all of these football associations. FIFA will remain in close contact to seek to find appropriate and acceptable solutions together."
Ukrainian forces were holding off Russian troops advancing on the capital Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says, as the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two enters a fourth day.
Reuters
