World Champion France demands Russia be thrown out of the 2022 World Cup: Federation

French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet told Le Parisien on Sunday that Russia should be expelled from the 2022 World Cup after invading Ukraine.

On the fourth day of the invasion, Ukrainians and Russians said hundreds of thousands of people were ready to negotiate to stop the conflict that forced them to flee their homes.

France won the world championship in 2018 after defeating Croatia in the final in Moscow.

“The world of sports, especially football, cannot remain neutral. I would certainly not oppose the expulsion of Russia,” Le Grey said.

Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic have all refused to play against Russia in the World Cup playoffs.

Poland will face Russia in Moscow on March 24th, and if the host wins, it will host the winner of the Czech-Sweden match on March 29th.

LeGraet agreed with the trio’s stance.

“How can you imagine playing soccer against this country in these dramatic situations,” he said.

FIFA said Thursday that it was “concerned” about the “tragic” situation that President Gianni Infantino said was capable of taking action “at any time” in playoff games. No action has been taken against Russia yet.

The European Union’s governing body, UEFA, took action on Friday, stripping St. Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena in the Champions League final on May 28 and awarding a showpiece match to the Stade de France in Paris.

The UEFA is also believed to be discussing whether the majority of shareholders will cancel the sponsorship agreement with the Russian gas giant Gazprom, a Russian state.

Gazprom renewed its contract in May 2021 and executed until 2024. The Champions League sponsorship deal is reportedly worth € 40 million ($ 45 million) annually.