FIFA admits Russian U-17 national football teams to int'l competitions as neutral players

MOSCOW. Oct 4 (Interfax) - The Council of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has allowed Russia's U-17 national football teams to participate in international competitions as neutral players, but the ban for other Russian football teams will remain in place until the end of the special military operation, the FIFA website said on Wednesday.

Following the Union of European Football Associations Executive Committee's decision to allow Russian U-17 national teams to participate in the competition, "the FIFA Council approved an extension of this decision to the FIFA U-17 World Cup and FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup for which UEFA's competitions serve as a qualification pathway, thus lifting the suspension on teams from Russia taking part in these tournaments," the statement said.

"This is conditional on these teams playing under the name of the 'Football Union of Russia' rather than 'Russia', in the absence of their national flag, their national anthem, their national-team kit and equipment, and instead playing in neutral colors," it said.

At the same time, the FIFA Council "confirmed that the remaining terms of the decision made on February 28, 2022 remain in force until the end of the conflict," the statement said.

Previously, the decision on admitting U-17 national teams was made by UEFA. Russian under-17 players will be able to take part in the European Football Championship qualifiers in this age category, which will take place in the next few weeks. At the same time, they will be unable to perform in the Russian national uniform or use the flag or anthem of the Russian Federation.

The European U-17 teams qualify for the World Cup based on the results of their performance in European competitions.

FIFA has banned all Russian football teams from international competitions since the conflict in Ukraine broke out in 2022.