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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed readiness to host a friendly between Russia’s national team and Nigeria’s Super Eagles in June next year. The move has raised concern among stakeholders over a possible threat of FIFA sanctions in view of the geopolitical circumstances and Russia’s status of sanctions. The release is to take a close look at events, assessing chances of FIFA sanctions and their implications on Nigeria’s football.
Background
In February of 2022, in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA banned Russia’s national team and Russia’s clubs from playing in international tournaments “until further notice.” The ban isolated Russia’s national team and Russia’s clubs from international football.
Notwithstanding the ban, Russia has continued to propose friendly matches with other nations. Russia’s national team, in particular, has been playing friendly matches against nations that are not in the UEFA sphere, such as friendly matches between Russia and Iran and Iraq. The friendly matches have been done unilaterally, without a greenlight of FIFA, as a way of keeping Russia’s national team’s football alive in the period of ban.
FIFA’s Stance on Friendlies with Suspended Countries
FIFA’s rules provisions of rules over international matches require that any member association interested in hosting a friendly with a banned team to obtain in advance a greenlight to do it. The staging of such a friendly without such a greenlight is liable to a set of penalties, such as fines and potential suspensions. The penalties are set in the FIFA Disciplinary Code for associations that fail to conform in a move to maintain the integrity of football across the globe.
Threats to Nigeria
By proceeding to play the planned friendly game against Russia in disregard of FIFA’s explicit acquiescence, NFF is likely to be in contravention of FIFA’s instruction. The action can be interpreted to be in contravention of the collective intent of the international football fraternity to ban Russia for its geopolitical motives. Nigeria is likely to suffer:
1. Penalties: Economic penalties by FIFA for going contrary to rules of international matches.
2. Suspension: Denial of entry to international tournaments for a period, hence prejudicing the Super Eagles’ qualification to take part in upcoming qualifiers and tournaments.
3. Damage to Reputation: Association with a banned country would hurt Nigeria’s credibility in the international football fraternity, hence poor relations between Nigeria’s football associations and governing bodies.
Though a friendly match with Russia would be a sporting plus to Nigeria, it is wise to put it in a global perspective in line with the rest of the world of football. The NFF must do its homework to be in line with FIFA rules and that of the rest of the football world. In that way, Nigeria would be keeping its integrity, preventing potential sanctions, and upholding ideals that rule the beautiful game.
I don’t think so