The UEFA executive committee announced this Tuesday that Russian underage teams will be readmitted to this season’s competitions, maintaining the suspension of the rest of the teams, clubs and national teams, due to the war in Ukraine.
“The UEFA executive committee has decided that Russian teams with underage players will be readmitted to its competitions during the current season. In this regard, the executive committee has asked the UEFA administration to propose a technical solution that would allow “the reinstatement of Russian underage teams under 17 years of age (both women’s and men’s), even when the draws had already been made,” UEFA said in a statement.
Despite being readmitted, the teams will play matches outside the country, without national flag, anthem or playing equipment, explains the UEFA Executive Committee, which met this Tuesday in Limassol, Cyprus.
“Children should not be punished for actions for which adults are solely responsible and [a UEFA] He is firmly convinced that football should never give up sending messages of peace and hope. It is especially regrettable that, due to the persistence of the conflict, a generation of minors is deprived of their right to compete in international football,” he highlights.
UEFA also reiterated its condemnation of “Russia’s illegal war” and confirmed that the suspension of all other Russian teams, clubs and national teams will remain in force until the end of the conflict in Ukraine.
“UEFA’s continued suspension of top-level Russian teams reflects its commitment to taking a stance against violence and aggression. UEFA is determined to maintain this stance until the war ends and peace is restored. But By prohibiting children from participating in our competitions, we not only “We do not recognize or defend a fundamental right for their integral development, we also directly discriminate against them,” said Aleksander Ceferin, president of UEFA, quoted in the organization’s statement.
Ceferin explained that the opportunity to compete with their peers in Europe is also an “investment” in what they hope will be “a brighter and more capable future generation.”
Source: TSF
