The decision of the International Football Association (FIFA) to suspend the participation of Russian clubs and teams in all sports competitions has sparked widespread controversy on social media platforms.
And FIFA published on its official website a statement saying that all Russian teams and teams will be banned from participating in all sports competitions until further notice.
“Football is united, we stand in solidarity with all those affected in Ukraine, we hope that the situation will improve dramatically and quickly so that football will once again become a driving force for unity and peace among people,” the statement added.
FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions
▶️ https://t.co/Q2htzW3W9z pic.twitter.com/LFo1bUtqmm
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) February 28, 2022
For his part, the Egyptian football legend and former Al-Ahly player, Muhammad Abu Trika, commented on the decision via his Twitter account, saying, “The decision to prevent Russian clubs and teams from participating in all tournaments must be accompanied by preventing the participation of clubs and teams affiliated with the Zionist entity because it is an occupier and has been killing children and women in Palestine since years, but you have double standards.
@fifacom_ar قرار منع الاندية الروسية والمنتخبات من المشاركة فى كافة البطولات لازم يكون معه منع مشاركة الاندية والمنتخبات التابعة للكيان الصهيوني لانه محتل ويقتل الاطفال والنساء فى فلسطين منذ سنين ولكنكم تكيلوا بمكيالين..
— محمد أبوتريكة (@trikaofficial) February 28, 2022
@fifacom_ar The decision to prevent Russian clubs and teams from participating in all tournaments must be accompanied by a ban on the participation of clubs and teams affiliated with the Zionist entity, because it is occupied and has been killing children and women in Palestine for years, but you used double standards.
— Mohamed Aboutrika (@trikaofficial) February 28, 2022
Arab activists interacted on social media platforms with the decision, saying that it shows what they described as “double standards” followed by FIFA and the West in general, and that the boycott decision is subject to unclear criteria.
Fathi Noreen refused to confront an Israeli player, so he received a 10-year ban that prompted him to retire, and when 4 European countries announced their boycott of any matches with the Russian national team, FIFA responded by banning Russia from participating in tournaments.
