Uefa is prepared to block the return of Russian teams to international football after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally lifted the country's suspension from global competition. This stance sets up another potential clash with Fifa, the world governing body.
Background of the Ban
Russia has been banned from international football since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago. Fifa imposed the ban and has now indicated it will review its position. On Tuesday, Fifa said it would “analyse the decision before deciding on next steps.”
Uefa has yet to comment officially, 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. Although the World Cup is a Fifa tournament, European qualifying is run by Uefa. Many of the biggest western European associations and federations, including in England, Germany and France, remain vehemently opposed to Russia's return.
Previous Attempts and Backlash
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. The organisation does not want a repeat of that situation. Uefa's president, Aleksander Ceferin, is seeking re-election next year, so he is unlikely to risk alienating much of his electorate.
Fifa's Position
Fifa is more open to readmitting Russia. Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, has made clear he would welcome the country's return. Infantino remains close to Vladimir Putin, having worked with him to deliver 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.
Infantino 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.
Potential Complications
Even if Fifa took the radical step of permitting Russia to enter World Cup qualifying via another confederation, as is the case with Israel, who compete in Europe, that may not solve the issue because European teams could threaten a boycott if Russia reached the World Cup.
The Russia issue could open another major faultline between the two most powerful organisations in world football. They clashed publicly this week after Fifa's disciplinary committee took the unprecedented step of lifting Folarin Balogun's suspension before the USA's last-16 World Cup defeat by Belgium. Uefa accused Fifa of crossing “a red line” that undermined the integrity of the World Cup, which led its counterpart to hit back with accusations of hypocrisy.
IOC Decision and Football Context
The IOC's decision to lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, in place since October 2023, paves the way for their 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. With this scrapped, several hundred Russians could compete in the LA Games.
The IOC has made clear that individual sports have discretion to make their own decisions regarding Russia and there is no possibility of them competing in football in 2028 because the qualification tournaments have already begun. Uefa declined to comment.
