Russia plays its first home game since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year as Valery Karpin’s men host Iraq — the same day Ukraine take on England in Euro 2024 qualifiers.
- Russia was suspended from international soccer after invading Ukraine
- They have played four friendlies away from home since that decision
- On Sunday they played their first game at home, hosting Iraq in Saint Petersburg
Russia hosted its first home game since November 2021 on Sunday, a friendly against Iraq in St Petersburg, after being banned from international competition due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Both the European soccer body, UEFA, and world soccer’s governing body, FIFA, decided in February 2022 that all Russian teams, national or club, would be suspended from participating in their competitions following the invasion. .
The Russian Football Federation (RFU) has promoted UEFA’s move to the 47-nation Asian Confederation (AFC), but its executive committee has not officially proposed this idea.
TASS reported that the RFU expected around 20,000 fans to attend Sunday’s game at the Gazprom Arena, which was due to host last year’s Champions League final before Russia was stripped of that honour.
Russia’s players gather before the start of Sunday’s game against Iraq in St. Petersburg.
It was the first game Russia played at home since the invasion of Ukraine last year.
Russia’s men have played four friendlies since the invasion, all away from home. Russia won 2-1 away in Kyrgyzstan last September, before drawing against Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran.
Russia women have not played at home since February 2022.
Russia, which calls its actions in Ukraine a “special military operation”, was prevented from qualifying for the 2022 men’s World Cup, while the women’s team was banned from last year’s Euros.
The RFU and four Russian clubs had appeals against the bans thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last July.
Most international sports federations have barred athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus since the invasion, but some are now beginning to allow them to compete again.
Russia was suspended from participation in international competitions after the invasion