No international soccer matches will be played in Russia and the country's flag and anthem will be banned from any of their matches abroad, governing body FIFA said on Sunday as it announced a number of sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

FIFA said the national team would not compete as Russia but as the Football Union of Russia (RFU) and any games would be held with no fans on "neutral territory".

These come after scores of sports federations and clubs cancelled competitions in Russia or have refused to face Russian teams in protest of the invasion.

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The Czech Republic, Poland and Sweden said their national teams would not contest World Cup qualifiers against Russia next month. England's Football Association also said its national team would not play any matches against Russia "for the foreseeable future".

"First and foremost, FIFA would like to reiterate its condemnation of the use of force by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine," FIFA said in a statement.

The International Olympic Committee urged international sports federations on Friday to either move or cancel events planned in Russia or Belarus.

Russian troops entered Ukraine through Belarus when the invasion began on Thursday.

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FIFA said it would try to find a solution with the three countries --Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic -- involved in the World Cup qualifiers.

"(FIFA) has already engaged in dialogue with all of these football associations. FIFA will remain in close contact to seek to find appropriate and acceptable solutions together."

Ukrainian forces were holding off Russian troops advancing on the capital Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said as the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two entered a fourth day.

No international soccer matches will be played in Russia and the country's flag and anthem will be banned from any of their matches abroad, governing body FIFA said on Sunday as it announced a number of sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

No international soccer matches will be played in Russia and the country's flag and anthem will be banned from any of their matches abroad, governing body FIFA said on Sunday as it announced a number of sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. FIFA said the national team would not compete as Russia but as the Football Union of Russia (RFU) and any games would be held with no fans on "neutral territory". These come after scores of sports federations and clubs cancelled competitions in Russia or have refused to face Russian teams in protest of the invasion. ALSO READ: Premier League: Leeds United part ways with head coach Marcelo Bielsa The Czech Republic, Poland and Sweden said their national teams would not contest World Cup qualifiers against Russia next month. England's Football Association also said its national team would not play any matches against Russia "for the foreseeable future". "First and foremost, FIFA would like to reiterate its condemnation of the use of force by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine," FIFA said in a statement. The International Olympic Committee urged international sports federations on Friday to either move or cancel events planned in Russia or Belarus. Russian troops entered Ukraine through Belarus when the invasion began on Thursday. ALSO READ: Ukrainian duo Zinchenko and Mykolenko embrace each other as Man City, Everton show support for Ukraine FIFA said it would try to find a solution with the three countries --Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic -- involved in the World Cup qualifiers. "(FIFA) has already engaged in dialogue with all of these football associations. FIFA will remain in close contact to seek to find appropriate and acceptable solutions together." Ukrainian forces were holding off Russian troops advancing on the capital Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said as the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two entered a fourth day.

FIFA bans matches in Russia following Ukraine crisis, no flag or anthem for team

India's star shuttler Saina Nehwal on Saturday revealed that her arc-rival PV Sindhu is just another opponent for her.&nbsp

Nehwal has a 3-1 head-to-head record in the international matches against Rio Games silver medallist Sindhu.&nbsp

She also defeated Sindhu in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games final.&nbsp

While speaking to reporters at the sidelines of a felicitation function of the CWG medal winning shuttlers by the Badminton Association of India, the London Olympics bronze medallist said," It's not about me playing against Sindhu or any other opponent. I just take her (Sindhu) as any other opponent. I have issues with some of the players but I am comfortable playing against some of them."&nbsp

"Maybe my game is more suited while playing against them. But I don't know how it happened but it is happening on the court," She added.&nbsp

However, she considers her opponents including Saina to be dangerous and wants to be better than them. &nbsp

"I keep working on my areas of weakness. I want to think that I am better than my opponent but actually that is not. Maybe Sindhu or any other player in the world, all are very dangerous at the moment. I have to be always careful and be alert about the mistakes I had done in matches against them."

Saina was part of the mixed event gold winning team and then clinched another yellow metal in the women's singles where she defeated Sindhu in the final in straight games.&nbsp

After that, she won a bronze in the Asian Badminton Championships in China after losing to Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in semifinals.&nbsp

Asked if the badminton fans are seeing the Saina of the old, she said, "I am playing very well, don't know of old (or not). But this is winning me medals."&nbsp

Talking about the upcoming Asian Games, she said India should do better than earlier editions as all the top players are currently in great form.

"Asian Games is going to be tougher than the CWG, it is almost the same level as Olympics. It is going to be difficult but all of us are playing very well at the moment and our confidence is really high. It depends on the draw also. But I think the performance should be better this time," she said.&nbsp 
&nbsp

Nehwal has a 3-1 head-to-head record in the international matches against Sindhu.

India's star shuttler Saina Nehwal on Saturday revealed that her arc-rival PV Sindhu is just another opponent for her. Nehwal has a 3-1 head-to-head record in the international matches against Rio Games silver medallist Sindhu. She also defeated Sindhu in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games final. While speaking to reporters at the sidelines of a felicitation function of the CWG medal winning shuttlers by the Badminton Association of India, the London Olympics bronze medallist said," It's not about me playing against Sindhu or any other opponent. I just take her (Sindhu) as any other opponent. I have issues with some of the players but I am comfortable playing against some of them." "Maybe my game is more suited while playing against them. But I don't know how it happened but it is happening on the court," She added. However, she considers her opponents including Saina to be dangerous and wants to be better than them. "I keep working on my areas of weakness. I want to think that I am better than my opponent but actually that is not. Maybe Sindhu or any other player in the world, all are very dangerous at the moment. I have to be always careful and be alert about the mistakes I had done in matches against them." Saina was part of the mixed event gold winning team and then clinched another yellow metal in the women's singles where she defeated Sindhu in the final in straight games. After that, she won a bronze in the Asian Badminton Championships in China after losing to Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in semifinals. Asked if the badminton fans are seeing the Saina of the old, she said, "I am playing very well, don't know of old (or not). But this is winning me medals." Talking about the upcoming Asian Games, she said India should do better than earlier editions as all the top players are currently in great form. "Asian Games is going to be tougher than the CWG, it is almost the same level as Olympics. It is going to be difficult but all of us are playing very well at the moment and our confidence is really high. It depends on the draw also. But I think the performance should be better this time," she said.

This is what Saina Nehwal said on her competition with PV Sindhu

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