Top regulatory authorities governing global and European football have suspended Russian clubs and national teams from international games amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

"All Russian clubs and national teams are suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice," the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) said in a statement on Monday.

It said that the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and UEFA took a joint decision as they suspended all Russian teams' participation in international football competitions until further notice.

"Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine," UEFA added.

Moscow’s war on Ukraine entered its fifth day on Monday, with the latest reports indicating that Russian troops were heading toward the capital, Kyiv.

The war has been met by outrage from the international community, with the EU, UK, Japan, and US implementing a range of economic sanctions on Russia.

At least 102 civilians have so far been killed in Ukraine and more than 500,000 others have fled the country, according to UN officials.

Ukraine says more than 350 civilians have been killed and over 1,600 injured during attacks by Russian forces./aa

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has refused to face Russia’s Anastasia Potapova at the Monterrey Open in Mexico in the wake of Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

"I believe the current situation requires a clear position from our organizations: ATP, WTA and ITF. As such, we – Ukrainian players – requested to ATP, WTA and ITF to follow the recommendations of the IOC to accept Russian or Belarussian nationals only as neutral athletes, without displaying any national symbols, colours, flags or anthems," she said in a statement on Monday.

World number 15 Svitolina said she will not play against any Russian or Belarussian tennis players until the organizations take necessary steps, adding that she does not blame any of the Russian athletes for the current crisis.

"They are not responsible for the invasion of our motherland. Moreover, I wish to pay tribute to all the players, especially Russians and Belarussians, who bravely stated their position against the war. Their support is essential," the 27-year-old said.

Potapova, 20, also released a statement following Svitolina's refusal to play against her.

“As a rule, even in childhood we choose our own path of development. Even when I was a kid, I dreamed of playing tennis without choosing a match, a country or a partner in the game. It is difficult to explain to people from politics that for me there is no opponent from any country, I am fighting for victory, my best game, for my result."

She added that athletes are becoming "hostages" of the current situation./aa

FIFA has ordered Russia to play their upcoming matches without their flag or anthem and as the Russian Football Union (RFU), after its military intervention in Ukraine. 

It said no international competition shall be played on the territory of Russia, with “home” matches being played on neutral territory and without spectators.

Several nations including England, Poland and Sweden have announced that they will refuse to play Russia.

FIFA said it will continue its ongoing dialogue with UEFA and other sport organizations to determine any additional measures or sanctions, including a potential exclusion from competitions.

The world football body condemned “the use of force” by Russia, and called for “the urgent restoration of peace" and "constructive dialogue.”/aa

The Finland national ice hockey player was reportedly "not getting good food" and was under tremendous mental stress as he was continued to be kept in COVID-19 isolation after testing positive 18 days ago

The Finland men's ice hockey team coach accused China of ignoring one of his player's human rights on Sunday as complaints about COVID-19 isolation protocols grew at the Winter Games.

Finland head coach Jukka Jalonen said Marko Anttila, a ninth-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2004 NHL draft, was "not getting good food" and under tremendous mental stress.

"We know that he's fully healthy and ready to go and that's why we think that China, for some reason, they won't respect his human rights and that's not a great situation," Jalonen said on a Zoom call with media.

Anttila was no longer infectious but continued to be kept in COVID-19 isolation after testing positive 18 days ago, according to the team doctor.

More than 350 Games participants, including dozens of athletes, have tested positive on arrival in the Chinese capital since Jan. 23. They can only leave special quarantine hotels once they are free of symptoms and test negative in two PCR tests 24 hours apart.

Several Games participants have complained about the isolation conditions, as well as the confusing procedures around being allowed to leave. Organizers said Sunday that they were trying to address complaints.

"We are in a process of addressing these problems," said Zhao Weidong, Beijing Games spokesperson, adding that they would now allow an athlete to order in food from the village.

On Saturday, Germany's team chief Dirk Schimmelpfennig called conditions for triple Olympic gold medalist Eric Frenzel and two other German athletes "unacceptable."

He demanded a complete overhaul including bigger and cleaner rooms, a working internet connection, sports equipment and better food.

Schimmelpfennig said Sunday that organizers had acted after being contacted by the team, the ski federation and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"We have succeeded since yesterday in achieving a marked improvement in conditions for the athletes," he told reporters.

"Now the athletes have a satisfying framework of conditions. They have bigger rooms now, working wifi, an exercise bike in the room so we have appropriate and satisfying conditions in a very difficult situation for the athletes," he said.

Horror story

Polish short-track speed skater Natalia Maliszewska posted on Twitter that her Beijing Olympics had turned into a "horror" story after she tested positive on Jan. 30. She claimed she had received several positive and negative tests

Finally, on the day of the start (on Saturday) at 3:00 am, people pull me out of solitary ... That night was a horror.

"I slept with my clothes on because I was afraid that someone would take me to solitary in a moment again. I only looked a little through the curtains. With one eye, because I was afraid someone would see me."

Hours later, Maliszewska said she packed for the ice rink to take part in the 500 meters heats.

"And suddenly the news that they have made a mistake! That they shouldn't let me out of solitary confinement! That I am a threat after all! That I can't compete. I have to get back to the village asap."

Maliszewska's status at the Games was not immediately clear. A Polish Olympic Committee representative said he would clarify the situation later on Sunday.

Swedish journalist Philip Gadd, who was whisked off to isolation in an ambulance when he arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, described his confusion and fear in a diary he is writing for his newspaper.

"It was a really terrifying experience and it just felt like ... it didn't feel real. It felt like as if I was in a movie, a sci-fi movie or something," he told Reuters in a Zoom interview from his quarantine hotel./ REUTERS