UEFA Executive Committee recommends allowing Russian under-17 football teams to compete internationally

MOSCOW. Sept 26 (Interfax) - The Executive Committee of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has decided to allow Russian national football teams made up of boys and girls under 17 to compete internationally this season, UEFA said on its website on Tuesday.

"The UEFA Executive Committee has decided that Russian teams of minor players will be readmitted to its competitions in the course of this season. In this respect, the Executive Committee has asked the UEFA administration to propose a technical solution that would enable the reinstatement of the Russian U17 teams (both girls and boys) even when draws have already been held. All matches of the Russian teams shall be played without the country flag, anthem, national playing kit and not on the Russian territory," UEFA said on its website.

Children must not be punished for actions the responsibility for which lies solely with adults, it said.

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

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