What Russia’s sporting isolation could mean for upcoming events

Russia are facing pariah status in the sporting world because of their invasion of Ukraine after being ostracised by several high-profile federations.

FIFA and UEFA have expelled Russian clubs and national sides from all competitions after the International Olympic Committee’s call to implement a total ban on the country as well as Belarus, who have supported the invasion.

Here the PA news agency looks at what the decisions taken in recent days could mean for upcoming sporting events.

This season’s Champions League final due to be held in St Petersburg on May 28 has been switched to Paris while Spartak Moscow have been thrown out of the Europa League. Of far greater significance is Russia’s almost certain absence from the 2022 World Cup – they staged the event four years ago – as their qualifying semi-final play-off will not go ahead while their women’s team are banned from Euro 2022.

World Rugby denounced Russia’s “aggressive invasion”, adding the country’s actions have been facilitated by Belarus, and the governing body has decided to suspend both countries with full and immediate effect. Russia have therefore been disqualified from the Rugby Europe Championship, where they sat fifth out of six teams, ending their slim hopes of reaching next year’s World Cup in France.

It is understood that the future of F1’s sole Russian driver Nikita Mazepin is set to top the agenda when the sport’s governing body stage an emergency meeting on Tuesday. The president of the Automobile Federation of Ukraine, Leonid Kostyuchenko, has demanded the FIA bans all Russian and Belarusian drivers from competing outside of their own countries. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who will chair Tuesday’s summit, wrote to Kostyuchenko to offer