The Russian Football Union has decided to maintain its membership with UEFA instead of switching to Asia’s football confederation. President Alexander Dyukov emphasized the aim to return to UEFA competitions for the World Cup qualifiers. The organization is faced with ongoing bans from FIFA and UEFA, leading to concerns over financial implications if a switch to the AFC were made.
The Russian Football Union expressed its commitment to return Russian teams to international competitions by deciding not to leave UEFA for Asia’s football confederation. Following the UEFA ban imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the union’s executive committee met and chose to maintain its ties with UEFA instead of switching to the Asian Football Confederation.
Alexander Dyukov, the union’s president, stated, “We are indeed considering the option of returning to UEFA competitions as soon as possible,” underlining the importance of participating in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Additionally, Dyukov mentioned the possibility of opening discussions with UEFA to restore their relationship.
Currently banned by UEFA from the Euro 2024 qualifiers and FIFA from all international competitions, Russia has also faced rejections by the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding appeals to overturn these bans. For Russian clubs, a switch to the Asian league could pose significant financial setbacks as highlighted by CSKA Moscow’s president, Yevgeny Giner, who pointed to the inferior financial and competitive structure compared to European football.
He cautioned, “We will literally have to start from zero,” emphasizing that waiting for a return to European competitions might be a wiser approach given the disparities in match status and revenue expectations.
The Russian Football Union is focused on returning to UEFA competition instead of joining the AFC, amidst ongoing bans from FIFA and UEFA due to geopolitical conflicts. This decision reflects the union’s strategy to preserve its international standing while recognizing potential financial drawbacks of joining Asian leagues. There remains a cautious optimism for future UEFA engagements, especially concerning upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Original Source: www.themoscowtimes.com
