UEFA discussed in Belgrade
DFB clearly opposes Russia’s return to football
DFB clearly opposes Russia’s return to football
04/01/2025, 6:36 am
Russian teams are excluded from all international football competitions. The DFB President says. There can now be discussions in Belgrade. Opinions differ widely.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf has clearly spoken out against a return of Russian teams in international football competitions. “The fact is that unfortunately nothing has changed in the starting point, which has led to the suspension of Russian teams. Russia continues to continue the war against Ukraine violating international law,” said Neuendorf before the UEFA Executive Committee meeting and the UEFA congress in Belgrade.
Most recently, in view of the efforts to do an armistice in circles of the European Football Union, at least behind the scenes had been spoken about a possible end of the exclusion. However, there are no prominent supporters. Nevertheless, it is expected that the topic will be discussed in Belgrade on Wednesday and Thursday.
The attitude of the German Football Association is clear with the statement of Neuendorf. “In this respect, debates about a general abolition of the sanctions are currently unavealing. The situation must first change substantially,” said the DFB President about the situation in Ukraine.
UEFA boss Čeferer represents a different attitude
UEFA President Aleksandar Čeferin had repeatedly skeptically commented on whether the exclusion of Russian youth teams was also targeted. “Firstly, these children do not take part in elections and do not support authorities because they are a minor. Above all, they are now being brought up with hatred and fear of children from other parts of Europe,” said the Slovenian recently in an interview with the magazine “Delo” in his homeland. Čefer takes the attitude that football can build bridges in adolescence. “As soon as a Russian child comes to Slovenia, for example, and being hugged by a Slovenian child, it realizes that we are not enemies and that life has to continue,” said Čeferin.
Like other large sports associations, the UEFA had excluded Russian teams from all competitions after the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine. This spell also applies to the upcoming World Cup qualification by the World Association FIFA. At the UEFA Congress, the topic of Russia is not on the official agenda.
