New UEFA ruling opposed by The FA after controversial U-turn on blanket ban

27 September 2023 , 06:57

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UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has issued a statement on lifting the blanket ban of Russian participation (Image: Getty Images)

England will continue to oppose playing matches against Russian football clubs even after UEFA ended its blanket ban on the nation taking part in its competitions.

Under-17s fixtures featuring Russian outfits will be allowed by the game's European governing body, a year and a half after all teams were banned from UEFA competitions due to the invasion of Ukraine.

UEFA confirmed a decision was made at a meeting of its executive committee. A statement read: "Children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults, and is firmly convinced that football should never give up sending messages of peace and hope.

"It is particularly aggrieving that, due to the enduring conflict, a generation of minors is deprived of its right to compete in international football." There remains certain strict rules that even Russian under-17s outfits must follow, even if they can participate in Europe once again.

It is stated that fixtures must be contested without Russia's national flag on display, the Russian anthem cannot be played nor can the national kit be worn. None of the games meanwhile can actually take place in Russia.

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With that being said, it is believed that the FA are firm in their stance that they oppose the readmission of Russian sides back into UEFA competitions. As a result, it remains the case that no English outfit will come up against a Russian one.

The ban implemented by UEFA meant that Russia's womens team did not participate at the Women's European Championship in England in 2022 and both the nation's mens and womens outfits were barred from qualifying from their respective World Cups.

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Aleksander Ceferin has addresses UEFA's recent rule change regarding Russian teams

UEFA have made it clear that the ban remains in place for all sides operating at an adult age and all senior teams will continue to be banned at club and national team level.

Aleksander Ceferin, president of the European football governing body, said: "UEFA's continuing suspension against Russian adult teams reflects its commitment to take a stand against violence and aggression. UEFA is determined that this position will continue until the war is over and peace restored.

"But by banning children from our competitions, we not only fail to recognise and uphold a fundamental right for their holistic development but we directly discriminate against them.

"By providing opportunities to play and compete with their peers from all over Europe, we are investing in what we hope will be a brighter and more capable future generation and a better tomorrow."

Josh O'Brien