England’s youth teams will no longer face Russia in football matches, according to the Football Association (FA). This decision comes after UEFA’s announcement to allow Russia’s Under-17 teams to participate in European competitions again, marking their return since the invasion of Ukraine. In February 2022, Uefa suspended all Russian teams, both national and club sides, from their competitions in response to the invasion. Additionally, UEFA terminated its partnership with Russian energy company Gazprom.
During a meeting in Limassol, Cyprus, UEFA’s Executive Committee stated that children should not be penalized for the actions of adults. As a result, they decided to readmit Russian minor teams to their competitions this season. UEFA has requested its administration to propose a technical solution that would allow the inclusion of Russian U17 teams, even if draws have already taken place. However, Russian teams’ matches will be held outside of Russia and will not feature the country’s flag, anthem, or national kit. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized that banning children from competitions not only fails to recognize their fundamental right to holistic development but also directly discriminates against them.
The FA expressed disagreement with UEFA’s decision and confirmed that England teams will not play against Russia in UEFA Age Grade Competitions. The U-17 men’s European Championship finals are scheduled to take place in Cyprus next year, while the women’s tournament will be held in Sweden. RushHourDaily reached out to the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) for comment on this matter.
In addition to the Russia-related news, UEFA announced the appointment of Armand Duka as the successor to former Spanish Federation (RFEF) boss Luis Rubiales. Rubiales resigned as a vice president of UEFA after kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s World Cup victory, which sparked controversy among players and fans. Duka, who currently heads Albania’s soccer federation and has been a member of UEFA’s Executive Committee since 2019, will assume this role.
The article was reported by Aadi Nair, with additional reporting by Tommy Lund. Christian Radnedge and Toby Davis contributed to the editing process. The article adheres to The Thomson RushHourDaily Trust Principles.
