Spartak Moscow are set to be expelled from the Europa League by UEFA, with RB Leipzig the beneficiaries.
The Russian side were due to face Bundesliga club in the competition’s round of 16, however, UEFA has come under increasing pressure to kick the club out of the tournament following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
READ ALSO: Ukraine crisis: FIFA orders Russia not to compete under national flag
The first leg of the tie was scheduled for March 10, with the return leg due to be played on March 17.
Given that Spartak Moscow were the seeded team in the draw, it meant the second leg would have seen RB Leipzig travel to the Russian capital, however, the German side are now set to receive a bye into the quarter finals, report newspaper Bild.
With the decision already being made to replace Saint Petersburg as host city for the Champions League final, Poland, Czech Republic and Sweden have also publicly stated they will refuse to play in Russia as part of the World Cup play-offs that get underway next month.
Meanwhile, Formula 1 have also announced that they won’t be traveling to Sochi for the 2022 Russian Grand Prix, which was scheduled for September this year.
FIFA has also signalled their plans for Russia, stating that while they won’t be banned from their competitions, they’ll be ordered to play under the name of ‘Football Union Of Russia’ while being banned from playing at home, without spectators and without their national anthem or flag.
READ ALSO: Roman Abramovich hands over 'stewardship and care' of Chelsea following Russia invasion of Ukraine
The decision to chuck Spartak Moscow out of the Europa League will be music to the ears of Simon Jordan, who spoke strongly about the need for sport to be ‘in step with the rest of society.’
Asked if the Russian side should be kicked out of the competition, he told White and Jordan: “Absolutely.
“What sport should be doing is lockstepping behind the landscape of what everybody else is doing. That’s the landscape of shutting everything down.
“If Aeroflot can’t fly to the UK, then Russian teams can’t play in European tournaments.
“It’s not a case of the political landscapes and this being one of the exceptions to the rule, we are in a situation in the West where an aggressor can’t behave in this way and sport can’t be out of step.
“Sport can’t be out of step with what’s going on in society.
“We talk about sport reflecting society and we talk about societal behaviour manifesting itself in sport, sport is not an exception.
“If sport does not fall in line in this instance then sport makes itself an island, which is a ridiculous one to be on.”