UPAYA FIFA DALAM PENYELESAIAN GUGATAN RUSSIAN FOOTBALL UNION TERHADAP PEMBLOKIRAN RUSIA PADA AJANG FIFA WORLD CUP 2022

This study explores FIFA’s efforts in addressing the lawsuit filed by the Russian Football Union (RFU) regarding Russia’s exclusion from the FIFA World Cup 2022, a sanction imposed in response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the research analyzes FIFA’s role as a non-state international organization through the lens of global sport governance theory. The focus lies on how FIFA formulates and upholds strategic policies amid geopolitical pressures, while maintaining the principle of neutrality in sport. The findings reveal that FIFA implemented its decision based on internal regulations, ethical codes, and universal principles of sport, particularly those concerning neutrality and independence from political interference. This policy was further legitimized by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which rejected RFU’s appeal and upheld FIFA’s stance. The study highlights FIFA’s success in defending its policy despite political sensitivities and affirms the organization’s autonomy and strategic decision-making capacity in navigating complex global political dynamics. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the role and responsibility of international sports organizations in preserving the integrity of sport in the face of international conflict.