Russian football teams remain banned from UEFA competitions due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, with a notable absence from the UEFA Super Cup planned in Kazan. Meetings between the RFU and UEFA yielded no agreements for Russia’s return. The IOC is reviewing participation options for Russian athletes in the 2024 Olympics, while the RFU seeks inclusion in future tournaments despite the conflict.
Russian football teams will continue to face bans from European competitions due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The UEFA Super Cup, which was scheduled to occur in Kazan, will also not take place there under these circumstances. Recent reports indicate that executives from the Russian Football Union (RFU) met with UEFA representatives in Nyon, Switzerland, to discuss future cooperation but made no progress toward Russia’s return to international play.
Contrary to claims by Russian media, no working group has been established by UEFA to explore reinstating Russia in the European sporting community. Since the conflict began in February 2022, Russian national teams and clubs have been barred from participating in UEFA and FIFA events. An RFU statement expressed a desire for continued dialogue regarding the return of Russian teams to competition, with a follow-up meeting set for February.
UEFA is expected to coordinate with other sports organizations, such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), before considering any return for Russian teams. The IOC is already discussing the potential participation of individual Russian and Belarussian athletes in the 2024 Olympics, following previous arrangements that allowed neutral participation in earlier Games.
While the RFU was absent from the Euro 2024 qualifying stage draw in September, its officials continue to advocate for re-entering UEFA competitions amidst the ongoing war. RFU President Alexander Dyukov has indicated a strong interest in engaging in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers soon. Discussions about resigning from UEFA to join the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) encountered opposition within the organization.
Original Source: www.nytimes.com
