Our football has been in isolation for a year and a half. Clubs do not play in European competitions, the Russian team missed the world championship in Qatar and does not play in the qualifying tournament for the European Championship 2024. However, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Representatives of UEFA and FIFA made rather unexpected statements in which they made it clear that they were extremely interested in the return of our clubs and teams to world football.

What exactly did UEFA say

The situation with our suspension, which began at the end of February 2022, at some point led to serious talk about the transition of Russian football to Asia. The leaders of the Russian Football Union (RFU) traveled to the East and conducted preliminary negotiations there. Apparently, in Asia itself, for the most part, they were not against it either. But the final decision was never made.

The real reasons why the transition did not take place, we do not currently know and probably will never know. One can only assume that UEFA asked Russia not to rush, giving some guarantees that the return will take place – and quite soon. Anyway, it’s been quiet since then. Exactly until the moment of the big conference of the RFU in Moscow, at which statements were made by international officials. Josef Kliment, UEFA President’s National Association Adviser, sent a powerful message in his speech.

– We believe that we will be able to meet not only at the level of conferences of officials, but also at the level of competitions between national teams and clubs. We believe that the Russian team will be allowed to meet international rivals in a fair fight while remaining friends outside the competition. Despite the difficult situation, we did not interrupt cooperation with the RFU. UEFA fulfills all its obligations to the RFU, as well as to all other national associations, including financial support. We want to build bridges between countries and not destroy them,” Match TV quotes Clement as saying.

Photo: © Denis Bushkovsky / Match TV

Why World Football Needs Us

The adviser to the head of UEFA was also supported by FIFA representative Heidi Beha, who said that the situation would be resolved in the very near future and the right solution would be found. She also took the time to send greetings to the RFU from the head of FIFA, Gianni Infantino. All this suggests that the two most important organizations in world football not only have not forgotten about Russia, but are interested in our return.

Of course, our clubs and national teams do not play a significant role in world football. But Russia, whatever one may say, is a huge market with serious finances and sponsors. The fact that the 2022 Champions League final was to be held in St. Petersburg said a lot about the close cooperation between our country and UEFA. And after all, then no one was against coming to St. Petersburg, especially against the backdrop of how cool the World Cup in Russia and some of the matches in St. Petersburg at the last Euro were organized.

The big bosses from UEFA and FIFA, of course, have not forgotten anything. They probably remember the nightmare at the Champions League final in Paris a year ago, when it all ended in a terrible crush near the stadium and miraculously managed to avoid a global tragedy. A complete refusal to cooperate with Russia is a bad option for Europe. It remains to back up the words with real deeds.