KYIV: Ukraine has demanded that FIFA and UEFA review their decisions to permit Russians teams to contest in global competitions, Western media reported on Thursday.
Kyiv Demands FIFA, UEFA Review Decision to Permit Russia to Compete
Ukraine’s Ministry for Youth and Sports Affairs denounced “the decisions of sports bodies to permit Russians to take part in global events”. In a statement, the Ministry said that they called on FIFA and UEFA to stand up to the aggression of Russia.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the world football’s governing body (FIFA) lifted its ban on Russia’s under-17 football teams, after in the footsteps of UEFA, and clearing the way for these teams to play at the World Cup.
UEFA earlier, reinstated Russia’s youth teams to its contests but maintained a bar on the country’s senior teams due to the current war in Ukraine, AFP reported.
Read Also: Ukraine Says Will Boycott All UEFA Competitions Featuring Russian Teams
In a statement, FIFA said that the decision is conditional on Russia’s teams playing under the name of the “Football Union of Russia”, while Russia’s flag, anthem, and national playing kit would not be permitted either. Russia was banned from all global football events after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
However, Russia’s under-17 team will not attend next month’s World Cup in Indonesia, following being barred from taking part in qualifying.
“The FIFA Council vowed its disapproval of Russia’s war in Ukraine and also confirmed that the remaining terms of the decision made in February 2022 remain in force until the end of the war,” FIFA stated.
In response to UEFA’s recent decision, Ukraine’s football association stated that it will boycott all contests featuring Russia, while Poland will deny to play against the Russian teams.
