The Russian Football Union (RFU) has confirmed it will appeal the country's suspension by FIFA and UEFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
World and European football's governing bodies decided to bar Russian teams from partaking in their competitions following the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia were due to play Poland in a World Cup playoff on March 24, with the winners facing either the Czech Republic of Sweden for a place in Qatar.
However, each of the Polish, Czech and Swedish FA's confirmed their unwillingness to play Russia - even under neutral banners - prompting FIFA to take decisive action.
But the RFU claim FIFA acted without legal basis, and they say pressure from the three mentioned associations "violated the principle of sports and the rules of fair play".
They've requested "an expedited procedure for considering the case", and they've also raised the likelihood that the FIFA and UEFA decisions could be suspended with the case pending.
Separately, it's reported that the Ukraine FA has requested that their World Cup playoff with Scotland at Hampden Park be suspended.
The sides were due to meet on March 24, with the winners playing one of Austria or Wales.
Russia Football Union statement:
The Russian Football Union will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne against the decision taken by FIFA and UEFA to remove the Russian national teams from participation in international competitions.
As part of a single lawsuit against two organisations, the RFU will demand the restoration of all men's and women's national teams of Russia in all types of football in the tournaments in which they took part (including in the qualifying round of the World Cup in Qatar), as well as compensation for damage, if any will be installed.
In order to ensure the possibility of the participation of Russian teams in the next scheduled matches, the RFU will insist on an expedited procedure for considering the case. If FIFA and UEFA refuse such a procedure, a requirement will be put forward for the introduction of interim measures in the form of suspension of FIFA and UEFA decisions, as well as competitions in which Russian teams were supposed to participate.
The RFU believes that FIFA and UEFA did not have a legal basis when deciding on the removal of Russian teams. It violated the fundamental rights of the RFU as a member of FIFA and UEFA, including the right to take part in competitions. In addition, the decision to withdraw the national team from qualification for the 2022 World Cup was made under pressure from direct rivals in the play-offs, which violated the principle of sports and the rules of fair play.
The Russian Football Union was also not given the right to present its position, which violated the fundamental right to defence. In addition, when making decisions, FIFA and UEFA did not take into account other possible options for action, except for the complete exclusion of participants from the competition from Russia.
Other details of filing an appeal, including the timing of the consideration of the claim, will be announced later.
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