Controversy over FIFA sanctions against Russia, and Abu Trika wonders about Israel

The decision of the International Football Association "FIFA" (FIFA) to suspend the participation of Russian clubs and teams in all sports competitions has sparked widespread controversy on social media platforms.

And FIFA published on its official website a statement saying that all Russian teams and teams will be banned from participating in all sports competitions until further notice.

"Football is united, we stand in solidarity with all affected in Ukraine, we hope that the situation will improve dramatically and quickly so that football will once again become a driving force for unity and peace among people," the statement added.

For his part, the Egyptian football legend and former Al-Ahly player, Muhammad Abu Trika, commented on the decision via his Twitter account, saying, “The decision to prevent Russian clubs and teams from participating in all tournaments must be accompanied by preventing the participation of clubs and teams affiliated with the Zionist entity because it is an occupier and has been killing children and women in Palestine since years, but you have double standards.

Arab activists interacted on social media platforms with the decision, saying that it shows what they described as "double standards" followed by FIFA and the West in general, and that the boycott decision is subject to unclear criteria.

A boycott account wrote on Twitter, "Fatehi Nourin refused to confront an Israeli player, so he received a 10-year ban that prompted him to retire, and when 4 European countries announced their boycott of any matches with the Russian national team, FIFA responded by banning Russia's participation in tournaments, the crooked solidarity is that the boycott is a crime before Israel and a humanitarian position in front of others.

He may miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar FIFA and UEFA impose harsh penalties on the Russian national team and its teams

The International Football Associations (FIFA) and the European Football Association (UEFA), announced today, Monday, the exclusion of Russia from their competitions, whether at the level of teams or clubs, until further notice.

"Football is in full solidarity with those affected in Ukraine. The presidents of FIFA and UEFA hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and quickly, so that football will once again become a motive for unity and peace," said a joint statement issued by the two federations.

Under this step, the Russian men's team will be excluded from participating in the play-off qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as well as the women's team will be excluded from participating in Euro 2022.

This decision results in the exclusion of Spartak Moscow from the European League, where it was scheduled to meet Leipzig in the final price, and this means that the German team qualified directly to the quarter-finals of the continental competition.

UEFA also terminated its relationship with the energy giant "Gazprom" owned by the Russian government, which was the main sponsor of the European Champions League.

"The decision takes effect immediately, and covers all existing agreements, including the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA national team competitions and Euro 2024," a UEFA statement said.

It is noteworthy that if the suspension of the Russian national team continues until the date of its match in the European play-off against Poland on the 24th of this month, this means that the Russian team will miss the World Cup in Qatar 2022.