Russian FA choose to stay with UEFA despite ban; vote against move to AFC

The Russian FA voted against joining the AFC since they didn’t receive guarantees from FIFA.

In a surprising turn of events, the Russian Football Association (RFA) has opted to remain with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) rather than seeking refuge in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This decision comes in the wake of Russia’s ban from UEFA, a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine.

Vice-President of the Russian Football Union, Akhmed Aydamirov, announced the unanimous decision, stating, “We decided that we will not move to Asia. Everyone supported the decision unanimously. We will fight for Europe. Russia is Europe. We will win.”

The ban from UEFA, implemented just four days after the invasion of Ukraine by President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, includes Russia’s exclusion from Euro 2024 qualifiers. This move has undoubtedly dealt a blow to Russian football, particularly impacting clubs that were previously involved in prestigious European competitions such as the Champions League.

Despite this, there have been recent signs of a softening stance from both FIFA and UEFA regarding restrictions on Russian youth teams. In September, UEFA issued a statement emphasising that “children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults.” However, UEFA later abandoned a plan to reinstate Russia’s U-17 sides to European competition.

FIFA, on the other hand, took a different approach in October by opting to lift Russia’s ban from international football, albeit selectively. The international governing body allowed U-17 girls and boys teams from Russia to participate in tournaments, signalling a potential willingness to distinguish between youth and senior levels in their sanctions.

Mikhail Gershkovich, a member of the Russian Football Union, expressed reservations about moving to the AFC, citing the absence of guarantees from FIFA. “We unanimously voted against since there are no guarantees from FIFA,” he remarked, adding that Moscow would continue its contacts with UEFA. Gershkovich emphasised a cautious approach, stating, “Let’s see how the situation develops next year.”

The decision not to align with the AFC underscores Russia’s commitment to European football, despite the political tensions that led to the ban. It remains to be seen how this choice will impact the future of Russian football, both competitively and financially, and whether diplomatic efforts with UEFA will yield any positive outcomes in the coming year.

The evolving stance on Russian youth teams adds a layer of complexity to the situation, hinting at a potential thaw in the relations between football governing bodies and Russian football at the grassroots level.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.