FIFA says Russia can play as 'RFU' and could still be barred from World Cup qualifying

FIFA backed away from immediately expelling Russia from World Cup qualifying on Sunday but said it remained an option, deciding instead the squad can play at neutral venues using the "RFU" acronym for the country's football federation.

The compromise was immediately rejected by Poland, which said it would still refuse to play Russia in a World Cup playoff semifinal, which is scheduled for March 24.

"Today's FIFA decision is totally unacceptable," Polish football federation president Cezary Kulesza tweeted. "We are not interested in participating in this game of appearances. Our stance remains intact: Polish National Team will NOT PLAY with Russia, no matter what the name of the team is."

The unanimous ruling by the FIFA Bureau, featuring the six regional football confederation presidents, was also that the Russian flag and anthem can't be associated with the team that would use the acronym for the Russian Football Union.

"FIFA will continue its ongoing dialogue with the IOC, UEFA and other sport organizations to determine any additional measures or sanctions," FIFA said in a statement, "including a potential exclusion from competitions, that shall be applied in the near future should the situation not be improving rapidly."

The decision adopts the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling before the invasion of Ukraine, punishing Russia's cover-up of the investigation into state-sponsored doping. It meant the Russians had to compete at the last two Olympics as the ROC team. FIFA had stalled implementing the ban on Russia competing under the country's name until a potential qualification for the World Cup.

The winner of the Russia-Poland playoff is due to host Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 to decide who advances to the Nov. 21-Dec. 18 World Cup in Qatar.

The Czech Republic joined Poland and Sweden on Sunday in saying it would refuse to play Russia.

"The Czech FA executive committee, staff members and players of the national team agreed it's not possible to play against the Russian national team in the current situation, not even on the neutral venue," the federation said in a statement. "We all want the war to end as soon as possible."

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FIFA said it had engaged with the three associations and would remain in "close contact to seek to find appropriate and acceptable solutions together."

Separately, the English Football Association announced that its national teams would refuse to play Russia for the "foreseeable future." Russia has qualified for the Women's European Championship which is being hosted by England in June.

The English FA said the decision was taken "out of solidarity with the Ukraine and to wholeheartedly condemn the atrocities being committed by the Russian leadership."

The RFU's president is Aleksandr Dyukov, who is chief executive of a subsidiary of state-owned energy giant Gazprom and also sits on the UEFA executive committee.