The football player of the Russian national team made a choice between Europe and Asia

Dynamo goalkeeper Anton Shunin explained his choice between playing in Europe and Asia. He claims that it is more pleasant for all members of the national team to play in Europe with full stands. About this on Thursday, July 6, informs Online edition “Championship”.

Shunin stressed that he “does not want to get into this,” because there are people who understand how Russian football will develop. The athlete himself sees his personal goal in being the best and showing a great game in the national team if he is called there. “But, of course, when we arrived in Tajikistan and played on an artificial field of not very high quality, the contrast with Europe was great,” the football player gave an example. “Of course, it’s great to play on the chic fields of England, Spain and Italy with full stands.” At the same time, Shunin added that the team plays with those with whom they can. “For fans of Asian countries, our arrival is a holiday,” the goalkeeper explained. – Of course, it is more pleasant for all of us in the national team to play in Europe. But I don’t have to choose.”

Recall that after the start of a special military operation in Ukraine, Russian clubs and teams were suspended by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) from participating in competitions under the auspices of this organization. The ban came into effect at the end of February last year. In December 2022, the executive committee of the Russian Football Union (RFU) created a working group. She had to study the issue of moving from UEFA to the Asian Confederation. The discussion was scheduled to be completed by March 2023. The International Football Federation (FIFA) has stated that it will not prevent the Russian team from participating in the selection for the 2026 World Cup if the country moves to Asia. At the same time, on February 28, FIFA and UEFA excluded Russian teams and clubs from international tournaments. Domestic teams do not play in European competitions, and the Russian team has lost the opportunity to compete for reaching the finals of the World Cup.

RFU Secretary General Maxim Mitrofanov spoke on April 28 about the choice between UEFA and the Asian Confederation. He noted that if Russian football decides to go to Asia, then this must be announced in early June. “If we follow the path of Europe, then it (the decision. – Note. ed.) can be rescheduled for next year,” Mitrofanov added.

Formerly MK informedthat adviser on national associations of the head of UEFA, Josef Kliment, who attended the RFU conference, hopes that Russian football players will soon be able to take part in international matches.