Russia ready again for urgent court case over World Cup ban

Geneva
Russia’s expulsion from international soccer ahead of the World Cup playoffs is heading toward yet another urgent case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. And Russian sports have had some success in the court.
The Russian Football Union is ready and waiting Friday to file a formal appeal against the joint decision by FIFA and UEFA to exclude its national and club teams from international competitions.
It sets up a fascinating legal contest with time running down on the clock.
In 20 days, the Russia men’s national team is scheduled to play Poland in a qualifying playoff semifinal. The playoff finals are five days later, with spots at the World Cup in Qatar at stake.
Still, that timetable gives the CAS longer than it had last month to judge the case of 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valieva at the Beijing Olympics.
Russian sport won that blockbuster at the Winter Games. How could the next one go? The Valieva verdict was ultimately an interim ruling on the fairness of banning or allowing an athlete compete in a career-defining competition held only every four years. That doping prosecution will be dealt with later.
The Russian soccer appeal could also seek an interim ruling. Three judges will be considering if maintaining a ban would do “irreparable harm” to players who want a chance to advance to the World Cup.
THE BAN Soccer was first to act Monday after the International Olympic Committee urged sports governing bodies to isolate Russia for invading Ukraine.
FIFA and UEFA leaders went into emergency meetings and soon suspended Russian teams, saying ”football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine.” Neither published their legal reasons.
The Russian soccer federation and its president, Gazprom executive Alexander Dyukov, remained on the UEFA executive body but teams were affected. Spartak Moscow was removed from the Europa League ahead of Round of 16 games on March 10 and 17.
”That leads us into a direction that is quite difficult to manage for FIFA and UEFA and strays far away from the story of political neutrality,” said Antoine Duval, a sports law expert at the Asser Institute in The Hague.
FIFA and UEFA also have tournament rules which allow action.