It was on Thursday, January 4, 2021. Ukraine's premier league was preparing to begin. Then the unthinkable came to pass: "the war".

It took some days before the football world came into the limelight. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) responded first. UEFA started by banning Russia’s football teams from participating at the European level. Spartak Moscow felt the first shock after they were disqualified from Europa.

Spartak Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg were among the participants in the UEFA Champions League. Spartak Moscow was knocked out, leaving Spartak Moscow to drop to the UEFA Europa. They topped the table in their group. Later, they were to play a German outfit, RB Leipzig. Until Russia invaded Ukraine and they were suspended from the competition.

The Czech Republic refused to play Russia in the World Cup qualification.

FIFA BARRED RUSSIA 

This escalated further as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine progressed. The international football associations made their own statements. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has barred Russia's men's national team from competing in world cup qualifiers.

By the end of the month, Russia was scheduled to play Poland in a World Cup qualification match. Football Federation said "their national team will not play Russia if they were to meet them in the group stages of the world cup qualifiers."

This scenario was possible since the match was Russia vs. Poland. The winner between Russia and Poland will meet with either Sweden or the Czech Republic.

Ramifications for footballers 

The ramifications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the other leagues

The football world works like a family. The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also impacted the other leagues. The English Premier League (EPL) reacted first by taking a stand to support Ukraine. Some of the Ukrainian players in the English Premier League (EPL) are Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City), Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham United) and Vitaliy Mykolenko.

The English Premier League gave support to Ukraine. The EPL imposed sanctions on any of Russia’s sponsors. Roman Abrahimovic (the Russian oligarch) was sanctioned by the British parliament. Chelsea’s owner had his account frozen and his assistance also held by the British Parliament.

Spanish La Liga, Italy's Serie A, and other European leagues urged Ukraine to support them.

Football fallout impacts the 2022/2023 transfer window.

Ukraine Premier League players were affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Premier League’s foreign players are also affected. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has ordered the two countries' players to transfer without penalty.

Russian Foreign-based players can now be signed without restrictions by the clubs of their choice. UEFA said "they want the players to continue with their careers in other leagues of their choice". They said "they will further change the venue of the UEFA Champions League from Zenit to Paris, France."