UEFA Justifies Reclassification of Russian Minors Amidst Controversy with Ukraine

UEFA justified the reclassification of Russian minors by saying that children should not be punished for actions that adults are responsible for. For example, only Russia’s under-17 national team selections will be able to take part in the qualifications for participation in the European championships, for others the current measures, i.e. exclusion from competitions, remain in force.

Which is not enough for Ukraine, on whose territory a war conflict with Russia has been going on since last year. “The Ukrainian Federation insists on maintaining the previous decisions of UEFA and FIFA to ban all Russian teams from participating in international competitions. We will not participate in any competitions with the participation of Russian teams, and we appeal to other UEFA member states to boycott any matches against teams from the Russian Federation,” reads the statement of the Ukrainian union.

At least the English agree with him wholeheartedly. The country’s football association reacted immediately after it was published that its youth teams could face the Russian ones. “We do not support the return of Russia to UEFA competitions. Our position does not change, England’s selections will simply not play against Russia,” its press spokesman told Reuters. FAČR, on the other hand, announced that it takes note of UEFA’s decision and therefore intends to respect it.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described the exclusion of youth from competitions as direct discrimination. The union now intends to find a solution to include the Russian under-17 teams of players and girls in the competitions that have already been drawn. The ban on the Russian flag, anthem, national team jersey with national symbols and matches must not be played on Russian territory is to apply to these teams as well.

“We are convinced that the adoption of similar decisions on the gradual return of Russian teams to competitions during the hostilities led by the Russian Federation against Ukraine is unjustified and condones Russia’s aggressive policy. We strongly request UEFA to review this decision and uphold the previous decision on the complete exclusion of Russian teams,” the Ukrainian federation said.