Prime Minister Donald Tusk has echoed other statements by Western European politicians to militarise The EU must escalate its military buildup and win an arms race against Russia, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said. His statement comes amid growing calls by Western European leaders to […]
The French president urged his nation to bolster its defenses against the perceived threat from Russia French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech focusing on Russia earlier this week was “highly confrontational,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, arguing that it signals an intent to further […]
The French leader alleged that Russia was responsible for the failure of the 2014-negotiated truce with Kiev French President Emmanuel Macron should apologize for making “misleading” claims about the origins of the Ukraine conflict, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has told RT. In particular, […]
Officials in Azerbaijan have called for Karen Khachanov to be punished after his messages of support for Nagorno-Karabakh The Azerbaijan Tennis Federation has expressed its fury at Russian tennis player Karen Khachanov after he shared support for the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh at the ongoing […]
Officials in Azerbaijan have called for Karen Khachanov to be punished after his messages of support for Nagorno-Karabakh
The Azerbaijan Tennis Federation has expressed its fury at Russian tennis player Karen Khachanov after he shared support for the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh at the ongoing Australian Open.
Khachanov, 26, is into the quarterfinals of the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne and has used his traditional post-match messages – in which the winning player writes onto the lens of a courtside camera – to draw attention to tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“Artsakh, stay strong!!!” wrote Khachanov following his victory over America’s Frances Tiafoe on Friday. Khachanov referenced the region again after his fourth-round win against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka at the weekend, writing onto the camera: “Keep believing and fighting until the end. Artsakh stay strong!”
Khachanov was born in Moscow but has Armenian heritage. In his messages, the tennis star was using the Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh – the disputed region mostly populated by ethnic Armenians which broke away from Azerbaijan in 1988 before establishing its own republic. Yerevan and Baku have contested the area ever since, with fighting breaking out sporadically.
The Azerbaijan Tennis Federation expressed its anger in separate statements following both of Khachanov’s messages, describing it as an attack on the country. “The Azerbaijani Tennis Federation has sent a letter of protest to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in view of the unacceptable attack,” read an initial message shared on the organization’s website.
“The letter provides facts and legal documents relating to the attack on our country. The Azerbaijani Tennis Federation has called for tougher measures to punish the tennis player and to avoid such incidents in the future. We hope that quickly the issue will find an objective solution,” it added.
A second message followed at the weekend, and said that Azerbaijani tennis boss Ogtay Asadov had spoken to his counterpart at the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpischev, on the matter. “As the Azerbaijani Tennis Federation, we hope these attacks will never happen again, and we expect Karen Khachanov to be punished for these actions,” read the statement.
The messages from Khachanov angered tennis officials in Azerbaijan.
Khachanov’s camera messages come amid renewed tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over a blockade of the Lachin corridor, a vital road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. The route has been blocked by protesters since mid-December, disrupting supplies into Nagorno-Karabakh and increasing talk of a humanitarian crisis. Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of being behind the protests, although Baku has vehemently denied those claims, saying the protesters are environmentalists angered by illegal Armenian mining in the area.
Khachanov, meanwhile, will play his Australian Open quarterfinal against American rival Sebastian Korda in Melbourne on Tuesday. The Russian is aiming to reach the semifinal of Grand Slam for the second time in his career, having progressed to the last four of the US Open in September of last year.
Andrey Rublev is into the last eight in Melbourne after a five-set win over Denmark’s Holger Rune Russia’s Andrey Rublev saved two match points before fighting back brilliantly in a fifth-set tiebreak as he overcame Danish teenager Holger Rune to seal a place in the […]
Andrey Rublev is into the last eight in Melbourne after a five-set win over Denmark’s Holger Rune
Russia’s Andrey Rublev saved two match points before fighting back brilliantly in a fifth-set tiebreak as he overcame Danish teenager Holger Rune to seal a place in the Australian Open quarterfinals.
Fifth seed Rublev was staring down the barrel of defeat at numerous stages of the fourth-round match against number nine seed Rune at Rod Laver Arena on Monday.
Rune served for the match at 5-4 ahead in the fifth set and had two match points at 6-5, only for Rublev to battle back against his 19-year-old rival and send the contest to a decisive tiebreak.
Rune raced into a 5-0 lead in the tiebreak before Rublev again staged a stirring response, winning it 11-9 when the ball dropped on Rune’s side of the court after clipping the net cord. The match ended 6-3 3-6 6-3 4-6 7-6 (11-9) in favor of the Russian after a grueling contest lasting three hours and 37 minutes.
“It’s not like a rollercoaster, it’s like they put a gun to your head. A rollercoaster is easier,” Rublev said on court after his epic win. “I never in my life was able to win matches like this… especially in a very special tournament, the Australian Open, to be in the quarterfinals. It’s something I will remember for sure all my life. I have no words, I am shaking and happy.”
Rublev and Rune embraced after their epic contest.
Rublev, who headed into the tournament in Melbourne as the highest-ranked Russian male player, will next face the winner of the fourth-round match between Novak Djokovic and Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals.
Nine-time tournament winner Djokovic will be heavily fancied to win that match later on Monday, although the Serb has been forced to contended with a lingering hamstring injury throughout the event so far.
“No one wants to face Novak,” Rublev joked after his win against Rune. “I’d prefer to be in the other part of the draw.”
Rublev, 25, is into a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the seventh time in his career but has thus far failed to get beyond that stage. Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Russian number 18 seed Karen Khachanov remains in contention and will play his quarterfinal against American 29th seed Sebastian Korda at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.
Officials are due to make a decision in March regarding entry to competitions for transgender athletes International track and field governing body World Athletics is set to rule in March on changes which could tighten the requirements for participation by transgender athletes but still allow […]
Officials are due to make a decision in March regarding entry to competitions for transgender athletes
International track and field governing body World Athletics is set to rule in March on changes which could tighten the requirements for participation by transgender athletes but still allow a route for them to compete, according to reports.
UK newspaper The Telegraph has reported that a “preferred option” has been proposed under which the amount of plasma testosterone for transgender female competitors would be capped at 2.5 nanomoles per liter, which is exactly half the current limit.
However, the amount of time an athlete would need to remain below that level would be increased to two years – double the current requirement.
“Putting forward a preferred option is the best way to gather constructive feedback, but this does not mean this is the option that will be presented to [World Athletics] Council or indeed adopted,” the organization said in a statement.
It was reported by The Guardian, which says it has seen a consultation document, that World Athletics accepts that athletes who have transitioned from male to female “retain an advantage in muscle mass, volume and strength over cis women after 12 months [of hormone treatment]” and that “limited experimental data” suggests advantages continue even after that period.
In July of last year, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe hinted at a more stringent stance, saying he was “really over having any more of these discussions with second-rate sociologists who sit there trying to tell me or the science community that there may be some issue.”
“Testosterone is the key determinant in performance,” added Coe, who has vowed to protect “the integrity and future of women’s sport.”
Last year, international swimming governing body World Aquatics (formerly FINA) said it was banning trans participation in women’s events for athletes who have completed any part of male puberty, instead promising to create a new ‘open’ category. Federations in sports such as rugby have also imposed more stringent measures.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has promoted inclusivity while widely being seen as passing the buck to individual sporting federations to rule on the matter.
The issue of trans participation in female sport remains a contentious one, not least after athletes such as trans US college swimmer Lia Thomas broke a series of records with her performances for the University of Pennsylvania in 2021 and 2022.
Sha’Carri Richardson claimed she was ‘harassed’ before being removed from the American Airlines flight American track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson has shared footage of herself being removed from an American Airlines flight in an apparent row over her use of a cell phone. Richardson […]
Sha’Carri Richardson claimed she was ‘harassed’ before being removed from the American Airlines flight
American track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson has shared footage of herself being removed from an American Airlines flight in an apparent row over her use of a cell phone. Richardson claimed she was the victim of “intimidation” from a flight attendant, although fellow passengers could be hear applauding as she was escorted off the aircraft.
Posting two videos of the incident on Instagram on Saturday, Richardson accused an attendant she identified as “John” of disrespecting her prior to takeoff when he asked her to end a cell phone call.
“Prior to the video this gentleman asked me to get off a cell phone call, I did,” wrote the 22-year-old in a caption to one of the clips shared with her 2.2 million followers.
“I stated to him I didn’t like the tone he used with me. Following that while standing in front of me doing the safety protocols he continued to lean over to look at my phone. He asked to see that my phones were in airplane mode at this point. He demanded that me show him. Which I did in front of him.”
Richardson wrote that she was traveling on vacation, although it was not immediately clear where she was heading from or to. As the incident continued, the runner recorded the flight attendant as he attempted to hide behind a curtain.
“I’m recording me but you jumped in my video, so I caught you, because you jumped in my video. You’re harassing me at this point, so I think you should stop.”
Richardson also rowed with fellow passengers as they exhorted her to stop arguing, before eventually making her way off the plane.
“Y’all have no idea who I am,” said the sprinter as she waved sarcastically to passengers as they applauded her off the flight. “I’m still a superstar, what the f**k is your problem, you’re a regular person. I can fly a private plane, dumba*s.”
Richardson asked social media followers if she should pursue a legal case against American Airlines for her supposed mistreatment.
Richardson shared her anger with her 2.2 million Instagram followers.
“Tell me if I’ll be wrong to pursue legal actions against the airline @americanair not only did the man threaten me but also an innocent bystander who simply just wanted a picture with me,” wrote the runner.
“In the beginning of the video you can hear a Caucasian male state that he doesn’t give a f as a man that male flight attendant is intimidating a woman.
“Also the captain not doing anything to help the situation and this flight attendant has the applause when I exited the plane when I’m pretty serious the disrespect I received would not have happened if I was a one of them.”
The Dallas-born Richardson shot to fame as a teenager at Louisiana State University with some blistering performances which saw her clock the fourth-fastest 100m time by an American woman in history.
She was set to represent the US team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but was famously banned for marijuana use ahead of the Games. Richardson said she had used the substance as a coping mechanism following the death of her biological mother. However, a one-month suspension meant she missed the showpiece in Japan.
Richardson made headlines again during the Winter Olympics in Beijing last February, when she suggested she had been the victim of racism when comparing her case to that of figure skater Kamila Valieva.
The teenage Russian star was cleared to continue to compete in Beijing despite the emergence of a positive test for a banned heart medication based on a sample taken six weeks before the Games.
“Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines? My mother died and I can’t run and was also favored to place top 3. The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady,” claimed Richardson at the time.
Glover Teixeira has called time on his career after a punishing loss to Jamahal Hill in their light heavyweight title contest in Brazil Brazilian legend Glover Teixeira said he was “too tough for his own good” after fighting on despite taking significant damage during his […]
Glover Teixeira has called time on his career after a punishing loss to Jamahal Hill in their light heavyweight title contest in Brazil
Brazilian legend Glover Teixeira said he was “too tough for his own good” after fighting on despite taking significant damage during his light heavyweight title bout against Jamahal Hill at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night.
Heavily cut and with a particularly nasty gash above his eye sending blood streaming across his face, Teixeira nonetheless finished the five rounds of the main event for the vacant 205lbs title against Hill before losing a unanimous decision 50-44 on all three scorecards.
As Hill broke down in tears at the realization that he was the new UFC light heavyweight champion, Teixeira lay down his gloves on the Octagon floor as the 43-year-old signaled the end of his career.
“In reality, I think I’m too tough for my own good. Too tough for my own health. I can’t keep up anymore,”said Teixeira, who was bidding to recapture the title he won in shock circumstances against Jan Blachowicz in October 2021 before losing it to Jiri Prochazka the following year.
“I’m going to focus my energy on [helping Brazilian middleweight champion] Alex Pereira. He’s going to keep his belt for a while and then go up to light heavyweight,” added Teixeira to the crowd at Jeunesse Arena.
The Brazilian retires after a two-decade professional MMA career in which he has amassed a 33-9 record, including 16 victories in 23 UFC outings.
Teixeira fought on despite shipping significant damage to his face.
Hill, 31, was emotional at claiming what many had perhaps considered to be an unlikely light heavyweight title for the Chicago fighter.
His performance at nullifying the dangerous grappling threat from Teixeira was impressive – not least as the fight was something of a short-notice affair which was called after the title contest between Russia’s Magomed Ankalaev and Blachowicz failed to produce a winner in December.
“Where I came from to get to this, it’s unreal. Anything’s possible. Hard work, dedication, accountability, don’t let nobody tell you nothing,” said Hill.
“Too many people tried to tell me I couldn’t do it. It was impossible. I needed to win in one round. I couldn’t go five [rounds] – what the f**k you got to say now?”
Hill and Teixeira embraced after their five-round war.
The UFC light heavyweight elite appears to be open, however, with Ankalaev still aggrieved at his controversial draw against Blachowicz last month and Czech former champion Prochazka – who was forced to vacate the title in November due to a serious shoulder injury – stepping up his recovery.
Also at UFC 283 in Brazil on Saturday night, the co-main event for the flyweight title saw Mexico’s Brandon Moreno dethrone local hero Deiveson Figueiredo in a fourth fight between the pair.
The contest was ended with a doctor’s stoppage after the third round, with Figueiredo’s right eye completely swollen shut. After the two rivals paid tribute to each other inside the Octagon, Moreno was forced to leave the cage shielded by security staff as he was pelted by beer and other drinks by the angry crowd.
Karen Khachanov routed Yoshihito Nishioka to reach the quarterfinals in Melbourne Russia’s Karen Khachanov has booked his place in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open after a dominant victory against Japanese rival Yoshihito Nishioka on Sunday. Khachanov hammered Nishioka 6-0 6-0 7-6 (7-4) in a […]
Karen Khachanov routed Yoshihito Nishioka to reach the quarterfinals in Melbourne
Russia’s Karen Khachanov has booked his place in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open after a dominant victory against Japanese rival Yoshihito Nishioka on Sunday.
Khachanov hammered Nishioka 6-0 6-0 7-6 (7-4) in a one-sided match at John Cain Arena in Melbourne. Remarkably, the Russian won the first 14 games of the match before Nishioka put up some belated resistance to take the third set to a tiebreak.
The second set was particularly brutal for number 30 seed Nishioka as the big-hitting Khachanov, who is seeded 18th, conceded just two points to his opponent – a rare feat dubbed a ‘bronze set’ in tennis jargon.
Khachanov is now into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time in his career. The performance also means he has reached the last-eight stage at each of the four Grand Slams in his career, becoming the 50th male player in the Open Era to do so.
“[The] first two sets I didn’t know what was going on, but it’s never easy when you are going with the score too easy. You feel it,” Khachanov, 26, said after his resounding win.
“At one point Yoshi tried to turn it around, he pumped the crowd and it’s normal. I tried to stay focused all the match from the beginning until the end.
“But it’s not easy to win with this score, three sets, so the third set it was a really tough one and I’m playing well, so I’m really happy to go through.”
Khachanov had too much power for his Japanese rival.
Number 29 seed Korda, who is the son of former Australian Open winner Petr Korda, continued his fine form in Melbourne by dispatching Polish tenth seed Hubert Hurkacz in a five-set tussle in their fourth-round match on Sunday – sealing the match on a 10-point tiebreak.
For Korda, 22, it will be a first ever appearance in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, while Khachanov boasts experience of reaching the semifinals of the US Open last season and claimed an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo in 2021.
Elsewhere in the men’s singles draw, Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev will be aiming to join Khachanov in the last eight when he takes on Danish ninth seed Holger Rune in their fourth-round match on Monday.
There was an upset in the women’s draw on Sunday when Russian-born number 22 seed Elena Rybakina dumped out Polish top seed Iga Swiatek in straight sets in their fourth-round match. Rybakina, who has represented Kazakhstan since 2018 and won the Wimbledon title last year, will play Latvian 17th seed Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Ekaterina Alexandrova’s defeat means no female Russian representatives remain in the singles in Melbourne Russia is without a representative in the women’s singles at the Australian Open after 19th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova suffered a shock third-round defeat to Polish rival Magda Linette on Saturday. Alexandrova […]
Ekaterina Alexandrova’s defeat means no female Russian representatives remain in the singles in Melbourne
Russia is without a representative in the women’s singles at the Australian Open after 19th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova suffered a shock third-round defeat to Polish rival Magda Linette on Saturday.
Alexandrova lost the contest in straight sets at Rod Laver Arena, 6-3 6-4, capping a disappointing tournament for Russia’s women’s stars. None have made it into the second week of action at Melbourne Park despite Russia starting with 14 women in the main singles draw – including four of the top 20 seeds.
The highest-ranked Russian female contender, Daria Kasatkina, crashed out in the opening round as the number eight seed was beaten by compatriot Varvara Gracheva. The unseeded Gracheva progressed to the third round before her hopes were ended by Czech rival Karolina Pliskova.
Elsewhere, there were first-round losses for Anna Kalinskaya, Kamilla Rakhimova, Polina Kudermetova, Anna Blinkova, Evgeniya Rodina, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Oksana Selekhmeteva, and Liudmila Samsonova – the latter of whom was seeded 18th.
Russian teenager Diana Shnaider bowed out in the second round following a battle with Greek sixth seed Maria Sakkari, while Russian ninth seed Veronika Kudermetova exited at the same stage in a shock defeat to American qualifier Katie Volynets.
Alexandrova was unable to overcome her unseeded opponent.
The disappointing performances this year mean that Russia’s wait continues for a first female Grand Slam champion since Maria Sharapova at the French Open in 2014. Sharapova was also the last Russian females singles champion in Melbourne, winning the title in 2008.
Russia does, however, still have representatives in the women’s doubles event this year in Melbourne. Pavlyuchenkova is into the third round alongside Russian-born partner Elena Rybakina, who has represented Kazakhstan since 2018. Rybakina remains in the singles draw and will meet world number one Iga Swiatek in their fourth-round match on Sunday.
Russia’s Kalinskaya is also still in doubles contention alongside American partner Caroline Dolehide and the pair will play in the third round.
In the men’s draw, Russia has two representatives in the last 16 of the singles event. Fifth seed Andrey Rublev will take on Danish ninth seed Holger Rune in the fourth round on Monday, while Russian 18th seed Karen Khachanov plays Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka at the same stage of the tournament on Sunday.
Mexican team Pumas have parted ways with Dani Alves after he was detained by police in Barcelona Dani Alves has had his contract with Mexican Liga MX team Pumas terminated after the Brazilian star was charged with sexual assault in Spain. Alves appeared in a […]
Mexican team Pumas have parted ways with Dani Alves after he was detained by police in Barcelona
Dani Alves has had his contract with Mexican Liga MX team Pumas terminated after the Brazilian star was charged with sexual assault in Spain. Alves appeared in a Barcelona court on Friday following claims he assaulted a woman in a nightclub at the end of December.
“Club Universidad [Pumas] makes the decision to terminate the contract with Dani Alves with just cause,” said club president Leopoldo Silva, as reported by ESPN.
“This is an institution that promotes respect and the correct, dignified and professional behavior of its male and female players both on and off the field because they are role models in Mexico and throughout the world. We cannot permit any conduct that would damage our philosophy.”
Alves, 39, is being held without bail in Spain – a country where he spent a large part of his glittering career at Barcelona. The defender is said to have presented himself to police on Friday to answer the case against him before being taken to the Ciutat de la Justicia.
Police have not given details of the case, although a 23-year-old woman is said to have alleged that Alves groped and raped her at Barcelona nightclub ‘Sutton’ on December 30. The footballer vehemently denies the allegations against him.
Alves is recognized as among the most decorated footballers of all time, amassing more than 40 titles at senior level. That included a golden spell at Barcelona between 2008 and 2016, when he helped the Catalans to three Champions League crowns and six La Liga titles.
At international level, Alves has earned 126 caps for Brazil and last featured for his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Serb again struggled with a hamstring complaint but got the job done against Grigor Dimitrov Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record-extending tenth Australian Open title continues after he defeated Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in their third-round match in Melbourne on Saturday. Despite a lingering hamstring […]
The Serb again struggled with a hamstring complaint but got the job done against Grigor Dimitrov
Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record-extending tenth Australian Open title continues after he defeated Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in their third-round match in Melbourne on Saturday.
Despite a lingering hamstring injury which has hindered him throughout the tournament, Djokovic earned a 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 6-4 victory at Rod Laver Arena to set up a fourth-round match against Australia’s Alex de Minaur on Monday.
Djokovic, seeded fourth this year in Melbourne, was forced to take a medical timeout after a grueling first set against Dimitrov in which he saved three set points before prevailing in the tiebreak. Djokovic, whose upper left leg was heavily strapped, required treatment again in the third set but by that stage was well in control against the number 27 seed.
“It was an incredible battle. Three sets, over three hours. Let’s rest up and prepare for the next one,” Djokovic said in his post-match interview. When asked how he continues to produce relentless energy levels on court, Djokovic made light of his age, telling interviewer Jelena Dokic that “35 is the new 25.”
Remarkably, the Serb is now unbeaten in his last 24 matches at the Australian Open – a tournament he has won a record nine times. The last time Djokovic was defeated on Australian soil was back in 2018, when he lost in the fourth round in Melbourne against South Korea’s Chung Hyeon.
Djokovic has returned to the tournament this year after his infamous deportation from Australia in a row over his Covid vaccine status on the eve of the event in 2022. The Serb has been warmly welcomed by the crowds at Melbourne Park as he chases a 22nd Grand Slam title, which would draw him level with Rafael Nadal in the all-time list.
Nadal, 36, has already exited this year’s Australian Open after his injury-affected loss to America’s Mackenzie McDonald in the second round. Russia’s Daniil Medvedev – a finalist in the past two years in Melbourne – also endured an early departure after a shock loss to US rival Sebastian Korda on Friday.
The highest-seeded player remaining in the men’s draw is third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, who plays his fourth-round match against Italy’s Jannik Sinner on Sunday. Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev is also still in contention, and faces Danish number nine seed Holger Rune in the fourth round on Monday. Karen Khachanov, the 18th seed from Russia, plays his fourth-round match with Japanese rival Yoshihito Nishioka on Sunday.
But should Djokovic manage to defy his lingering injury struggles, he will surely be fancied as the favorite for the title considering his incredible track record in the opening Grand Slam of the season.
A meeting is reportedly scheduled for later this month as officials attempt to find a way back to competition for Russian teams Russian football officials and their counterparts at European governing body UEFA will hold talks next week to discuss the potential easing of the […]
A meeting is reportedly scheduled for later this month as officials attempt to find a way back to competition for Russian teams
Russian football officials and their counterparts at European governing body UEFA will hold talks next week to discuss the potential easing of the sanctions on Russian teams, TASS has reported.
Russian teams are currently banned from all UEFA and FIFA competitions because of the conflict in Ukraine. At the end of December, the Russian Football Union (RFU) said it would establish a working group alongside UEFA in a bid to find a possible pathway back to international tournaments.
“A meeting of representatives from the RFU and UEFA is scheduled at the UEFA office on January 24, at which potential opportunities for the return of Russian clubs and teams to international matches will be discussed,” said an RFU source on Friday, as quoted by the TASS news agency. “From the RFU, (general secretary) Maxim Mitrofanov and Aleksandr Alaev (president of the Russian Premier League) will participate in the meeting.”
It was also reported on Friday that RFU president Aleksandr Dyukov is set to take part in the UEFA Executive Committee’s first meeting of 2023, which is scheduled for January 25 at the organization’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Dyukov is due to attend in person, according to the RFU’s press service.
Russian officials are seeking a reversal of the UEFA and FIFA bans on their teams which were initially imposed at the end of February as a response to the start of Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.
The sanctions meant the Russian men’s national team was deprived of the chance to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and Russia has already been removed from the qualifying process for the 2024 UEFA European Championships. At club level, Russian teams are banned from competitions such as the prestigious UEFA Champions League for at least the 2022/23 season.
The RFU has appealed the UEFA and FIFA bans with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, but thus far without success. Russian officials have not ruled out pursuing their case with the Swiss Federal Supreme Court.
After being sidelined from UEFA competitions, it was suggested that Russia could leave the European organization and bid to join its Asian counterpart, the AFC. The reasoning is that Russian teams would potentially find a faster route back to competition in a more welcoming environment, particularly ahead of qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In the end, the RFU opted to establish its working group alongside UEFA in effort to resolve the current restrictions. Russian officials are targeting the start of April for a decision on the matter.
