FOOTBALL: IFA rule out playing Russia for 'foreseeable future'
FIFA and UEFA subsequently ban all Russian teams
Last updated 28th Feb 2022
The Irish Football Association have joined with a number of other national governing bodies in the game in saying they won't compete against Russia for the foreseeable future.
Northern Ireland Under-21s had been set to play Russia at the end of next month. That will now not go ahead.
"The Irish FA convened an extraordinary meeting of its Board today and confirmed that Northern Ireland will not compete in any fixtures for its international teams or those affiliated at club level, should the situation arise, against Russian teams for the foreseeable future," said the IFA statement.
"This includes the home UEFA U21 Euro qualifier scheduled for Tuesday 29 March.
"On behalf of everyone connected to the Irish FA, and indeed the wider football family in Northern Ireland, we send a strong message of support to our friends in Ukraine during this period."
The IFA's announcement came shortly before world governing body FIFA and their European counterparts UEFA announced that all Russian teams would be banned from playing in their competitions.