Football Union of Russia says talks to be continued with UEFA on Russian teams' return to int'l matches

MOSCOW. Jan 24 (Interfax) - The Football Union of Russia (FUR) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will continue talks in February on the return of Russian teams to the international arena, the FUR press service said.

"A working meeting between FUR and UEFA has ended. The key topic was the need for Russian national teams and clubs to return to international competitions. The parties agreed on the procedure for further interaction and agreed to continue contacts. The next face-to-face meeting with the participation of FUR and UEFA representatives will take place in February," the statement said.

On December 30, 2022, FUR President Alexander Dyukov said that the majority of members of the FUR Executive Committee backed the soonest return to competition, but not the transition to the Asian Football Confederation.

Dyukov also said that UEFA was not enthusiastic about FUR's withdrawal from its membership.

In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that the international sports federations bar the Russians and Belarusians due to the situation in Ukraine. Most federations, including FIFA and the UEFA, followed the IOC's recommendations.