World Cup 2022 qualifying begins

[Mr Angry]

FIFA & UEFA have just announced that they now ARE suspending Russia and all Russian teams from all competitions.

So Spartak Moscow out of the Europa League; Russia's Womens team out of the Women's Euro's and Russia Men's team out of the World Cup qualifier play offs.

Good.

FIFA were totally tone deaf in suggesting that anything else was acceptable.

[Loafer]

All football banned in and including Russian teams.

[AthleticoSpizz]

FIFA & UEFA have just announced that they now ARE suspending Russia and all Russian teams from all competitions.

So Spartak Moscow out of the Europa League; Russia's Womens team out of the Women's Euro's and Russia Men's team out of the World Cup qualifier play offs.

Good.

FIFA were totally tone deaf in suggesting that anything else was acceptable.

indeed…what was even in their heads with that (initial) ‘name change’ punishment (that actually wasn’t).

Good to see an eventual break-out of common sense.

Now just Putin to get that ‘vote of confidence’ from his puppet master.

[fartdad]

Does that mean Russian league football if played are not sanctioned by fifa? I’m guessing they don’t get official officials?

[Mr Angry]

Does that mean Russian league football if played are not sanctioned by fifa? I’m guessing they don’t get official officials?

Russian League won't be covered by this ban; neither FIFA nor UEFA have jurisdiction over National Leagues (as they don't here; we have the Premier League and the FA running English football).

Where UEFA comes in will be that they won't invite Russian clubs into European competitions next season (much as English teams were banned from Europe after Heysal) or UEFA sanctioned tournaments such as the Men's & Women's Euro's, whilst FIFA govern World football, thus banning Russia from World International tournaments (eg: The World Cup)

The War does throw into some doubt the Scotland v Ukraine play off; I think it will go ahead, and when it does the Ukraine leg will have to be played in a neutral Country.

[Silver Fox]

Lucky there's no Ukraine leg really

[Mr Angry]

Both the Scotland v Ukraine and Wales v Austria Play Off games, scheduled for later this Month, have now been postponed.

With the situation as it is in Ukraine not likely to change in the near future, I wonder if they may decide to withdraw from the tournament.

[Silver Fox]

It seems inevitable really, how long do FIFA, Scotland, Wales and Austria wait?

[Mr Angry]

Theoretically, they could wait until September, but that wouldn't be fair on the team that ends up going through as they would struggle to sort out hotels, training facilities etc.

There is a Nations League window in June which could be used, even though its a UEFA competition rather than a FIFA one, and ironically, Scotland are due to be playing Ukraine in that competition on June 7th, so that makes the most sense.

[Green]

If anything they should be given a bye.

But not sure how that works in practice, and can't see the nazis at UEFA going for it either.

[Zip]

It seems inevitable really, how long do FIFA, Scotland, Wales and Austria wait?

Wales v Austria is going ahead.

[Silver Fox]

It seems inevitable really, how long do FIFA, Scotland, Wales and Austria wait?

Wales v Austria is going ahead.

Indeed, but Austria will still have to wait for the final

[Zip]

It seems inevitable really, how long do FIFA, Scotland, Wales and Austria wait?

Wales v Austria is going ahead.

Indeed, but Austria will still have to wait for the final

I’m very disappointed in you Silver McFox.

[Silver Fox]

LOLz, I'd hope you'd expect nothing less!!

[LUX]

Cook Islands out.

[Ascotexgunner]

Wales v Austria is going ahead.

Indeed, but Austria will still have to wait for the final

I’m very disappointed in you Silver McFox.

TBF I've waited all my life to see Wales make a WC but I just don't care. I just can't get up for this. Normally I'm a bag of nerves but this WC is just so wrong morally and ethically. I won't watch it but if f*cking Scotland make it through I'll give the lads my full support to stop those cheating tossers getting there.

[Loafer]

Indeed, but Austria will still have to wait for the final

I’m very disappointed in you Silver McFox.

TBF I've waited all my life to see Wales make a WC but I just don't care. I just can't get up for this. Normally I'm a bag of nerves but this WC is just so wrong morally and ethically. I won't watch it but if f*cking Scotland make it through I'll give the lads my full support to stop those cheating tossers getting there.

I don't believe as a football fan, people who say they won't watch the world Cup, won't watch it.

I just couldn't not watch it as a fan of the game.

Also in that case people who say that, I assume they don't use or indulge in anything by a company that has ever done anything bad or morally bankrupt?

[Winston Biscuit]

Japan just qualified a few minutes ago beating Australia 2-0 with goals in the 89th and 94th minutes

Australia now can't qualify automatically and need to go through the play offs to get in

[Stranded]

Japan just qualified a few minutes ago beating Australia 2-0 with goals in the 89th and 94th minutes

Australia now can't qualify automatically and need to go through the play offs to get in

2 rounds of play-offs. Likely face the UAE next with the winner playing 5th from South America - which will likely be one of Uruguay, Peru or Chile.

Tough path.

[Winston Biscuit]

quite looking forward to these play offs tonight