The Football Union of Russia (RFS) has reacted with incomprehension and fierce criticism to FIFA and UEFA's decision to suspend its teams from all competitions over Russia's attack on Ukraine.

This violates "all standards and principles of international competition" and "the ethos of sportsmanship and fair play," according to a statement by the RFS on Monday evening.

The exclusion is "expressly discriminatory" and affects "an enormous number of athletes, coaches and support staff, club and national team officials and, more importantly, millions of Russian and international fans, whose interests should certainly have priority in international sports organizations".

The RFS reserves the right to challenge FIFA and UEFA's decision in accordance with international sports law.

FIFA and UEFA had suspended Russia from all competitions over the attack on Ukraine.

This means that Bundesliga club RB Leipzig is without a fight in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, the round of 16 games between Leipzig and Spartak Moscow scheduled for March will not take place.

In addition, UEFA announced that it would end its cooperation with the Russian sponsor Gazprom with immediate effect.

The decision also sealed the elimination of the Russian team in the World Cup elimination for Qatar.

Meanwhile, DOSB boss Thomas Weikert called for an uncompromising reaction from the entire sport to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“Russia has blatantly broken international law.

That is why sanctions are necessary in all areas of society and sport cannot be exempt from this,” said the President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation of “Sportschau”.

Weikert reiterated a demand by the umbrella organization to suspend Russia and Belarus from international sport.

"The IOC and the rules prescribe fairness and fair play, and that's why it's not possible for Russia to stay at the moment," emphasized the DOSB President.

"I assume that the vast majority of all sports federations exclude Russia," Weikert said in the video.

After the current events, sport "must question itself at the latest now how it deals with rulers of autocracies".

"Peace is more valuable than triumph"

Meanwhile, other international sports federations have joined the exclusion.

The European Handball Federation EHF, for example, has also suspended Russia and Belarus for the time being because of the attack on Ukraine.

According to the decision of the EHF Executive Committee on Monday evening, neither the national teams nor clubs from the two countries are allowed to take part in European competitions.

With this step, the EHF follows the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee.

For example, Meshkow Brest from Belarus is affected in the men's Champions League.

Rostov-Don and CSKA Moscow play in the premier class for women.

According to the EHF, referees and officials from Russia and its ally Belarus will also no longer be nominated for matches until further notice.

Events planned in Russia will be reassigned.

"These measures had to be taken with immediate effect as the war in Ukraine continues to rage and endangers the EHF's principles of cooperation at European level and the spirit of fairness," it said in a statement.

The EHF regrets the consequences for individuals, clubs and national teams and hopes that the return of peace will allow for new reflections.

The Ice Hockey World Federation (IIHF) also excludes the Russian and Belarusian teams from all competitions “until further notice”.

In addition, Russia will be revoked the rights to host the 2023 World Junior Championships, the statement said on Monday.

The Ice Hockey World Championships in Finland will probably take place without Russia and Belarus.

At the Olympic Games in Beijing, Russia narrowly missed out on the title in the final against Finland.

An Ice Hockey World Championship without Russia was previously unimaginable.

The Sbornaja has won the title 27 times, making it the record winner alongside Canada.

The North American professional league NHL also broke off all business relations with Russia.

The world association World Taekwondo withdrew the honorary black belt from Russian President Vladimir Putin (69).

The brutal actions of the Russian government contradict the vision of sport: "Peace is more valuable than triumph." The Seoul-based world association therefore decided to withdraw Putin's black belt of honor, which was awarded in 2013.

In addition, no official Taekwondo competitions will take place in Russia and Belarus, and the flags and anthems of both countries will no longer be presented on the international stage.

On Sunday, the world judo association IJF revoked Putin's status as honorary president and ambassador.

Putin has been a judo lover since childhood, actively practiced the sport himself and holds the 8th Dan.

On Monday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also stripped Putin of the Olympic medal awarded to him in 2001.

This Tuesday, the volleyball world association FIVB Russia also withdrew the men's world championship.

The FIVB announced that a new organizer for the World Cup tournament from August 26 to September 11 was now being sought.

Because of the war in Ukraine, it was "impossible to prepare and hold World Championships in Russia," the statement said.

The world association is "seriously concerned about the escalating situation and the safety of people in Ukraine".

The FIVB had already canceled Russia as a stage in the Nations League.

Games in Russia were originally planned for the women from the end of June in Ufa and for the men from the beginning of July in Kemerevo.

The replacement organizers are to be named shortly.