The UEFA Executive Committee performed a trick with children

The idea of ​​the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to return Russian youth teams to international competitions lasted only two weeks. The UEFA Executive Committee canceled its own September decision on their admission, citing the lack of a “technical” ability to implement it. This apparently refers to a whole series of threats to boycott matches against the Russians that have been made in recent days by various national football federations.

The Executive Committee of the Union of European Football Associations reversed its own high-profile decision taken exactly two weeks ago, saying that the topic was “removed from the agenda.” At the end of September, the key body UEFA authorized the admission to competitions under the auspices of the organization in a neutral status of all Russian football teams playing in the U-17 category, that is, for players no older than 17 years old, leaving in force the suspension of senior teams and clubs “until the end of the conflict in Ukraine”. The main European football structure, therefore, actually went against the March recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). They significantly softened the “isolation” regime in relation to the domestic sports industry, but the softening did not affect team sports: the IOC, like most federations, considers their return impossible.

UEFA explained its actions by caring for “children” who “cannot bear responsibility” for “adults”, as well as the fact that “due to the protracted conflict” “an entire generation” of young players “is deprived of the right to compete in international football tournaments” . The structure’s president, Aleksandar Čeferin, equated such prohibitions to discrimination. The first top tournaments after the partial lifting of sanctions for Russian teams could be next year’s European Championships: the men’s will be held in Cyprus in May-June 2024, the women’s in Sweden in May.

UEFA cited the lack of a “technical” opportunity to ensure Russian representatives’ participation in the tournament as the reason for canceling the September decision. The structure did not specify what it means, but it is not difficult to guess even without its prompting, knowing what happened in those days that immediately followed the September executive committee. Officials from several national football associations have announced that their teams will still boycott matches with Russian opponents. And UEFA vice-president Karl-Erik Nilsson was forced to resign as chairman of the Swedish Sports Confederation, which serves as the sports ministry, after coming under heavy criticism at home for voting in favor of admission.

Associated Press counted “at least” 12 countries joining the boycott. It was publicly announced by functionaries from England, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

It was easy to guess what the reaction of the Russian side would be to the sharp turn in the history of the youth teams. The most common comments included words about “unacceptable political pressure” and “weakness and cowardice” of foreign sports leaders, including Aleksandar Čeferin. The general director of the World Cup held in Russia in 2018, a former member of the Council of the International Football Federation (FIFA), Alexey Sorokin, described TASS the new decision of Mr. Čeferin’s structure as “strange” and not in accordance with its “traditions” of firmly defending its position. And according to the honorary president of the Russian Football Union (RFU) Vyacheslav Koloskov, the European organization has “showed its inconsistency” with the current step.

Of course, the outcome of the meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee made many media resources remember that quite recently Russia seemed to be planning to sever relations with it. At the end of last year, the RFU admitted that it was considering the option of moving under the auspices of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It never took place, but during the entire period of isolation, which included a ban on participation in official games, the Russian national team never met European opponents in friendly matches, meeting only with opponents from Asia and Africa. She will also meet with African teams in the coming days as part of the October window for national team meetings. On Thursday the Russians will be received in Moscow Cameroonians will play in Turkey with the Kenyans on Monday.

Alexey Dospehov