The European Football Union UEFA is allowing Russian youth teams to take part in its competitions again. Albanian Amand Duka becomes vice president.
The Russian youth teams are allowed to take part in international competitions again. The UEFA Executive Committee decided this at its meeting on Tuesday (September 26, 2023) in Limassol, Cyprus. At the same time, however, the ban on all Russian senior teams was confirmed as long as the war of aggression in Ukraine continues.
Excluding children from competitions is direct discrimination, said UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin: “By offering the opportunity to play and compete with peers from across Europe, we are investing in a hopefully smarter and more capable future generation and a better future.”
No games in Russia
A technical solution should now be developed to reinstate Russian U17 teams, even if draws for tournaments have already taken place.
However, it remains the case that these teams will play without an anthem or flag. Competitions on Russian soil are also still excluded.
Supercup final in Poland
Meanwhile, the 2024 UEFA Super Cup final between the Champions League winner and the Europa League winner has been awarded to Warsaw.
Duka follows Rubiales
Following the resignation of Luis Rubiales as vice-president, UEFA has appointed Albanian Armand Duka as his successor. Duka (60) has been head of the Albanian association since 2002, and in 2019 he was also elected to the UEFA Executive Committee.
Former Spanish association boss Rubiales resigned from his UEFA post on September 10 after weeks of wrangling after he kissed national player Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth without her consent at the award ceremony after the World Cup final.
The incident sparked international criticism. The world association FIFA temporarily banned Rubiales, and the judiciary in Spain is investigating.