The Albany Gazette - Governments urge fresh sports sanctions against Russia over Ukraine invasion

The statement, organised by the British government, followed a virtual summit convened by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston on March 3.

France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States are among the other signatories.

"Russia's unprovoked and unjustifiable war of choice against Ukraine, enabled by the Belarusian government, is abhorrent and a flagrant breach of its international obligations," the statement said.

"Respect for human rights and peaceful relations between nations form the foundation of international sport."

The statement also called for Russia and Belarus not to be permitted to "host, bid for or be awarded any international sporting events."

And it said any ban should also be extended to individual athletes selected by Russia and Belarus administrators, as well as teams or cities "effectively representing" the states such as major football clubs.

Welcoming the recent decision by the International Paralympic Committee to ban both Russia and Belarus athletes from the Winter Paralympics in Beijing, the statement said: "These restrictions should be in place until cooperation under the fundamental principles of international law has become possible again."

Earlier on Tuesday, sport's top court said the Football Union of Russia had lodged appeals against the suspension of Russian national teams and clubs from all FIFA and UEFA competitions over the invasion of Ukraine.

The FUR is asking the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a stay of execution for the suspensions, to allow Russia to play in a 2022 World Cup playoff against Poland scheduled for March 24.

CAS said it had initiated two separate arbitration procedures involving global football governing body FIFA and European counterpart UEFA respectively, as well as 15 national federations which have refused to play against Russia.

The court added it would give further information on the proceedings in the next few days once it had ruled on each decision the Russians are challenging.

FIFA said later Tuesday it had agreed, in a "spirit of solidarity", to Ukraine's request to postpone their 2022 World Cup play-off against Scotland this month following Russia's invasion.

Ukraine were set to face Scotland at Glasgow's Hampden Park on March 24 in a play-off semi-final which will now be staged in June.

(L.Kaufmann--BBZ)