Football associations on both sides of the border back Russian ban

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Russian football clubs and national teams have been suspended from all FIFA and UEFA competitions following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The governing bodies say they'll be banned "until further notice".

The move on Monday evening coincided with the two football associations on the island of Ireland joining the boycott of Russian teams. 

The Irish Football Association issued a statement: 

"The Irish FA convened an extraordinary meeting of its board today and confirmed that Northern Ireland will not compete in any fixtures for its international teams or those affiliated at club level, should the situation arise, against Russian teams for the foreseeable future.

"This includes the home UEFA U21 Euro qualifier scheduled for Tuesday, March 29.

"On behalf of everyone connected to the Irish FA, and indeed the wider football family in Northern Ireland, we send a strong message of support to our friends in Ukraine during this period."

The Football Association of Ireland offered its "full and unequivocal support" to the Ukrainian federation, also saying its teams would not face Russia at any level until further notice.

The Republic of Ireland men's team are due to play Ukraine twice in June in the UEFA Nations League. 

The match in Dublin is scheduled for June 4 before the return match on June 14, which - as things stand - would be played on neutral territory.

The FAI has said it will be as "flexible and accommodating as possible" over the staging of those two matches.

 

 

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