French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët has become the first major football official to suggest Russia should be thrown out of the men’s World Cup following the invasion of Ukraine.
Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic have all refused to play Russia next month in the play-offs for the tournament in Qatar in November and December.
“That is my first impulse,” Le Graët said on Sunday when asked if Russia should be banned from the tournament.
“The world of sports, and football in particular, cannot remain neutral. I will certainly not object to Russia’s exclusion.”
World football body FIFA must make the decision and Le Graët, 80, is on the governing FIFA Council.
Russia hosted the last men’s FIFA World Cup in 2018.
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