Source: REUTERS/MASSIMO PINCA
[Saba Sports News] UEFA recently made an official announcement
stating that Russian youth teams at all levels would be allowed to participate
once again in European competitions. This decision has sparked intense
discussions and garnered significant attention, particularly from the Ukrainian
Football Association, which expressed strong dissatisfaction. While only the
Russian youth teams have been reinstated and not the adult team, the Ukrainian
Football Association has declared its refusal to participate in any
championship events involving the Russian team. It is worth noting that
negotiations between the Russian Football Association and UEFA regarding the
country’s return to UEFA began earlier this year. Following the Russia-Ukraine
conflict, Russian football had been excluded from major European football
tournaments, and various activities such as player and coach transfers were
prohibited. Moreover, Russian league teams were unable to participate in
prestigious European competitions like the UEFA Champions League. These
restrictions have inflicted considerable damage upon Russian football.