FIFA: No World Cup qualifying ban yet; Russia to play as RFU
By ROB HARRIS
AP Global Soccer Writer
LONDON (AP) — FIFA has backed away from immediately expelling Russia from World Cup qualifying but said it remained an option, deciding instead the squad can play using the “RFU” acronym for the country’s football federation. The ruling from the FIFA Bureau, featuring the six regional football confederation presidents, was also that the Russian flag and anthem can’t be associated with the team.