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, other international sports associations 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 a 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.

"Peace is more valuable than triumph"

"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 meanwhile withdrew the Russian President Vladimir Putin (69) from the honorary black belt.

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.