Lokomotiv Moscow manager Markus Gisdol has resigned after less than five months at the club due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Gisdol, 52, only joined the Russian Premier League club on October 10 but as a result of the invasion of Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin, he has stepped down with immediate effect.
In a statement, the German coach called out the Russian president, saying: 'I cannot pursue my calling in a country whose leader is responsible for a war of aggression in the middle of Europe.
'That is not in line with my values, which is why I have resigned from my position as coach of Lokomotiv Moscow with immediate effect.
'I can't stand on the training ground in Moscow, train the players, demand professionalism and a few kilometers away orders are given that bring great suffering to an entire people.'
It comes after FIFA kicked Russia out of qualifying for the World Cup yesterday, in an announcement with UEFA which also saw all Russian teams suspended from European competition.
Spartak Moscow were removed from the Europa League with RB Leipzig advancing to the quarter-finals, while UEFA also terminated a sponsorship deal worth £33.5million a year with Russian energy company Gazprom. The Russian women's team are also set to miss this summer's European Championships in England.
The International Olympic Committee recommended similar bans be introduced by all sports, with the possible exception of the Winter Paralympics due to the proximity of the Games, which begin in Beijing on Friday.
Yesterday, a joint statement from FIFA and UEFA read: 'FIFA and UEFA have today decided that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice,' read a joint statement.
‘Football is fully united and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both presidents of FIFA and UEFA hope the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace among people.’
Monday's dramatic developments followed an earlier show of leadership from the IOC, which took the unprecedented step of recommending a worldwide sporting ban for Russian and Belarussian athletes and teams — rather than permitting them to participate as neutrals.
The IOC said they were acting to protect the integrity of international sport in the context of many Ukrainian athletes being unable to compete following Russia’s invasion.
FIFA had appeared reluctant to expel Russia from the World Cup given president Gianni Infantino’s close links to Vladimir Putin but on Sunday they made it clear that they would be guided by the IOC — and that the sporting world should be united in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
The ban also extends to athletes from Belarus, the country that has assisted Putin’s offensive by allowing their territory to be used to station troops and launch attacks.
They may be permitted to take part in the Winter Paralympics as neutral athletes due to the logistical difficulties of removing them at short notice, with a final decision to be made by the International Paralympic Committee board at a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.
‘In order to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants the IOC executive board recommends that international sports federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions,’ an IOC statement read.
‘Wherever this is not possible, the IOC strongly urges sports federations and organisers of sports events to do everything in their power to ensure that Russian or Belarusian nationals, be it as individuals or teams, should be accepted only as neutral athletes or neutral teams.
‘No national symbols, colours, flags or anthems should be displayed.’
Russia have the right to appeal against the suspensions at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, where they were successful in 2020 in getting bans on using their flag and anthem — following doping violations — reduced from four years to two, while other uncertainties remain.
UEFA are almost certain to kick Russia out of the women’s Euros in England this summer, when they are due to play group matches against Holland, Switzerland and Sweden and could have faced England in the semi-finals.
Portugal are expected to replace Russia having lost a play-off to them last year.
In another significant move, the IOC said they would remove the honour of the Olympic Order — the highest award granted by the Olympic movement — given to Putin in 2001.