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MARTIN SAMUEL: Kick Russia out of the European game and the continent where it has waged war... expulsion from all UEFA competitions would be a real sanction

Russian football is European football. Their clubs, their national team, their heroes — Russia made its home in the European game. So, if we’re talking sanctions, what if UEFA expelled Russian football entirely?

Not to remove them from the sport, but to exile them from the continent where Russia has waged its war. Let FIFA’s Gianni Infantino keep his tainted friendship with Vladimir Putin. Let Russia play in future World Cups, if that is his craven wish. Just not as a European entrant.

There can be a way back into the global game for Russian footballers and Russian clubs, but Europe does not have to facilitate it.