European Football Community Firmly Opposes Russia’s Return to International Competitions
At the recent meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee held on September 11 in Tirana, the issue of Russia’s potential reintegration into international football tournaments was heavily debated.
According to sources from the sports portal Sport24, the majority of UEFA members expressed unwavering opposition to allowing Russia back into the fold.
Particularly vocal were representatives from Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, who called for Russia to be expelled from UEFA and transferred to the Asian Football Confederation.
Other countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, and Iceland also voiced their support for isolating Russia in the sports arena.
It is noted that Poland and the Baltic states have taken an especially strict stance, insisting on stripping Russian teams of the right to participate in European competitions and advocating their reassignment to Asian football bodies.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in spring 2022, all Russian national teams and clubs have been suspended from playing under FIFA and UEFA’s authority.
This suspension has excluded Russian teams from the World Cup, European Championship qualifiers, and major club tournaments like the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
Meanwhile, UEFA’s financial dealings have come under scrutiny, revealing that nearly 11 million euros have been allocated to Russian accounts, while payments to Ukrainian clubs have been blocked.
Previously, reports indicated that UEFA president again took a stance in defense of Russian players and teams, further complicating the ongoing debate on whether Russia should be allowed to re-enter international football competitions.