Uefa Prepared to Block Russian Teams From International Football

Uefa is prepared to block the return of Russian teams to international football after the International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted the country’s suspension from global competition. Fifa has indicated it will review its position after imposing a ban on Russian teams in the wake of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago.

It said on Tuesday that it would “analyse the decision before deciding on next steps”.

Uefa has yet to comment but sources at several national associations have said there is no realistic prospect of Russian sides being welcomed back into European football, and by extension the World Cup. Many of the biggest western European associations and federations, including in England, Germany and France, remain opposed to Russia’s return.

Uefa was forced to abandon plans to bring back Russian sides to youth events three years ago after a backlash from at least a dozen of its members.

Fifa is more open to readmitting Russia.

The Fifa president remains close to Vladimir Putin, having worked with him to stage the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and helped to facilitate a Russia under-15s boys’ team competing at a youth World Cup in October in Azerbaijan. The Fifa president told Sky News in February that Fifa would look at reintegrating Russian teams.

“This ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred,” he said.

The IOC’s decision to lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, in place since October 2023, paves the way for its athletes and teams to compete at the Los Angeles Games in 2028. Only 27 athletes from Russia competed across the 2024 Summer Games in Paris and the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games after a vetting process to ensure they did not publicly support the war on Ukraine.