Bending on Russia ban, FIFA says team can compete as ‘RFU’

FIFA is backing away from immediately expelling Russia from World Cup qualifying on Sunday but says it remains an option, deciding instead the squad can play using the “RFU” acronym for the country’s football federation.

The unanimous ruling by the FIFA Bureau, featuring the six regional football confederation presidents, also says that the Russian flag and anthem can’t be associated with the team. FIFA also says the RFU team can only play on neutral territory and without spectators.

“FIFA will continue its ongoing dialogue with the IOC, UEFA and other sport organizations to determine any additional measures or sanctions,” FIFA says in a statement, “including a potential exclusion from competitions, that shall be applied in the near future should the situation not be improving rapidly.”

It is not immediately clear if the decision to use the acronym for the Russian Football Union would satisfy Poland, which said Saturday that it would refuse to play Russia in a World Cup playoff semifinal, which is scheduled for Moscow for March 24.

Separately, the English Football Association announces that its national teams would refuse to play Russia for the “foreseeable future.” Russia has qualified for the Women’s European Championship, which is being hosted by England in June.

The English FA says the decision was taken “out of solidarity with the Ukraine and to wholeheartedly condemn the atrocities being committed by the Russian leadership.”