The European Handball Federation suspended Russian clubs from tournaments

MOSCOW, 28 Feb. The European Handball Federation (EHF) suspended Russian and Belarusian teams and clubs from participation in European tournaments for an indefinite period due to the situation in Ukraine, according to the organization's website. The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the EHF executive committee on Monday. It applies to all current competitions at club and national level. It is noted that in the near future various competitions will be restructured in accordance with sports principles and current rules. In addition, according to the decision of the EHF, referees from Russia and Belarus will not serve matches under the auspices of the organization. Lecturers and members of delegations from Russia and Belarus will not be invited to future meetings and events. EHF initially announced that matches involving Russian and Belarusian teams in European tournaments would not be played this week. On Monday, the executive committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that sports federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete. The IOC added that athletes and teams from Russia and Belarus can only participate as neutral athletes. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24 that he had decided on a special military operation of the Russian Federation to demilitarize Ukraine. In a televised address to the Russians, he said that the circumstances «require decisive and immediate action from us, the people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help.» On February 21, Putin signed decrees recognizing the sovereignty of the LPR and the DPR.