The initiative of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to return Russian national teams under the age of 17 to international competitions, to put it mildly, was not liked by a number of countries in Europe. England, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Latvia, Poland, as well as Ukraine have already announced a boycott.

However, UEFA is ready to defend Russia and give an answer to those who are trying to act against the rules. The situation is heating up to the limit.

The West was predictably outraged

On September 26, the UEFA Executive Committee made the same decision on the admission of Russian youths that caused a riot in the West. In this case, of course, we were talking about performances without a flag, an anthem, and not even on the territory of our country. The organization emphasized that it is impossible to talk about the return of adult national teams and Russian clubs to the European system until the end of the SVO. But in any case, a step was taken towards Russia. UEFA understood perfectly well that it was in their own interests to prevent us from leaving for Asia. Nobody wanted to lose such a market, so it was necessary to give something in return. So why not start with the youth teams?

However, Europe immediately reacted with first isolated and then massive threats of boycott. At least nine countries have already stated that under no circumstances will they play with the Russians. It was also reported that three of the five UEFA vice-presidents were against the organization’s actions – the Britons David Gill and Laura McAllister, as well as the Pole Zbigniew Boniek. There is no need to further explain why they spoke in this manner.

Obviously, UEFA needed to take some steps to find a way out of this situation. On the one hand, they could not declare sympathy for Russia there. On the other hand, canceling your own decision would be a sign of weakness. Moreover, it was adopted by a majority vote at the executive committee. It’s just that, as always, it turned out that the voices of those boycotting are heard much louder.

Russian youth team / Photo: © RFU

What do UEFA intend to do and why should they defend Russia?

British Sky News journalist Rob Harris found out a number of interesting details from his sources in UEFA regarding the organization’s further actions. They assessed the scale of the possible disaster and now intend to rebuff those countries that have announced a boycott of matches involving Russian youth teams. According to him, UEFA is trying to suppress disagreements among countries opposing the organization’s decision, considering their actions inconsistent.

“UEFA is understood to be holding private discussions with representatives of a number of countries and indicating to officials that there is no inconsistency in their intentions regarding Russia’s return to the European football system,” Harris said.

One of the main arguments of UEFA is, oddly enough, the position of the Ministry of Sports of Ukraine, which in July softened its position and, in fact, lifted the ban on the participation of Ukrainian athletes in most competitions with athletes from Russia and Belarus performing in a neutral status. The idea is clear. If even in Ukraine they are ready to compete with the Russians, then what prevents other countries from doing this?

Moreover, UEFA is trying to use a number of other factors. Youth tournaments don’t usually attract much press attention, there are no big financial or television deals, so no one really has anything to lose from Russia’s participation. And, most likely, he will even buy it. Still, the presence of our country will arouse additional interest. In a number of other sports, Russians easily participate in international tournaments. If earlier it was mainly tennis, the NHL and the UFC, now we are talking about a much wider representation.

Sky News points out another interesting contradiction. In Sweden they said that they will not allow the Russian women’s team to participate in the European Championship next year, even if our girls qualify there. However, at the same time, UEFA Senior Vice President and former head of the Swedish Football Federation Karl-Erik Nilsson voted for the partial return of Russian teams at the organization’s executive committee. It is precisely such uncoordinated actions that people are talking about in Britain now.

One thing is clear. UEFA firmly wants to repel Russophobic countries that are boycotting not only our country, but also the organization’s decision itself. And this is already damaging her reputation. Of course, the Union of European Football Associations will act diplomatically and without loud slogans. Yes, in general, they are not needed. But technical defeats to boycotting countries are quite possible.