The decisions of FIFA and UEFA to exclude all Russian teams from international matches, indefinitely, cause tensions. The Russian Football Federation has denounced this as a measure of "discrimination". In fact, the football federation of the big country reacted to the sanction imposed on its national teams as well as its clubs by the two football authorities.

"The Russian Football Association categorically disagrees with the decision of FIFA and UEFA to suspend all Russian teams from participating in international matches for an indefinite period of time," it said.

"We believe that this decision is contrary to the rules and principles of international competition, as well as the spirit of sport. "It's clearly biased and it hurts a lot of athletes, coaches, club and national team players and, above all, millions of Russians and foreign fans, whose interests must be protected by international sports organizations."

The statement concluded: "Such actions divide the global sports community, which has always adhered to the principles of equality, mutual respect and independence from politics. "We reserve the right to challenge the decision of FIFA and UEFA in accordance with international sports law."

The suspension means that, barring an unlikely change of course in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the country will not be able to face Poland in a World Cup play-off semi-final next month.

UEFA has also terminated its deal with energy company Gazprom, which is majority-owned by the Russian state and is also a major sponsor of the UEFA Champions League. The sponsorship deal has been in place since 2012 and has been reported to be worth around £33.4m (€40m) per season.

Which fixtures are impacted?.

Russia are due to face Poland in a World Cup play-off clash on March 24th, but that fixture is now under serious threat. The Polish FA has already stated that it will refuse to honour the scheduling of that game if forced to face the Russians.

A number of other nations, including Sweden and France, have spoken out against the ongoing involvement of a Russian side in any global competition. The suspension imposed by FIFA covers all of Russia’s national teams – with their women’s team supposed to take part in UEFA’s Euro 2022 event this summer which will be staged in England.

A joint FIFA and UEFA statement read: "Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice.

"These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters.

"Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people."

Spartak Moscow will be removed from the UEFA Europa League, where they had been set to face RB Leipzig in the last 16. The sanctions were imposed on Russia on Monday following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine last week.