In an unprecedented move, against the backdrop of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA decided to exclude the Russian football team from the Qatar 2022

World Cup qualifiers and suspend the participation of all Russian teams and teams in international competitions.

The president of the International Handball Federation, Egyptian Hassan Mustafa, said he refused to confuse politics with sport, and recent decisions by various international federations against Russia.

"That's what I talked about in the last meeting with the President of the Olympic Committee. My view is that sport fixes what politics corrupts. "

He continued: "I suggested having a committee to discuss such matters. Sport brings people closer, it does not divide, it has nothing to do with politics. "

He went on: "The decision by the Olympic Committee not to participate in the various tournaments came in the majority. But I talked and I said no. "

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), on February 28, recommended that sports federations ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in international tournaments, interpreting this decision to "protect the integrity of world sports competitions."

On March 3, the International Olympic Committee did not allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the Beijing 2022 Games.