Russian Football Federation (RFU) hopes that the International Football Federation (FIFA) will follow the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (THAT IS) subject to the admission of youth teams. The Secretary General spoke about it in an interview RFU Maxim Mitrofanov.
In December THAT IS recommended removing all restrictions for young Russian athletes and allowing them to participate in all competitions with the anthem and flag.
“This recommendation has become an important event for all Russian sports. We see that in many sports international federations are making decisions on the admission of our athletes,” Mitrofanov said. “And there are more and more such decisions.” Recommendation THAT IS plays an important role in this process. Let’s proceed from the fact that FIFA this recommendation will be heeded.”
“At the same time, it is important to understand that the popularity and attention, including at the state and political level, towards different sports in Europe are different. The large international basketball, hockey and football federations are more careful in analyzing the decisions they make. They probably already realized that they have overdone it in 2022. Now it is even more difficult for them to get out of this situation, also because they are afraid of facing the position of a large number of countries which, at the state level, will hinder the implementation decisions about our return,” Mitrofanov added.
Russian clubs and national teams have been suspended from international tournaments due to the situation in Ukraine.