This is not a surprise, just the extension of a sanction since the conflict in Ukraine is still going on. This season, Russian clubs are not competing in European competitions in 2022-2023, including the Champions League. UEFA had also decided to replace Russia with Portugal for the Women’s Euro 2022 this summer. Already also excluded from the 2022 World Cup where it did not have the right to play in the play-offs, the Russian selection will not be able to play in the next Euro 2024 football either. It was the Russian Football Federation (RFS) itself which confirmed on Tuesday that it had been excluded from the tournament qualifiers by UEFA.
“The Russian national team will not participate in the qualifying draw for the 2024 European Championship which will take place in Frankfurt on October 9. The reason is the decision taken in February by UEFA to suspend Russian national teams and clubs from participating in competitions organized by the body, a decision which applies by default until further notice, ”explains the RFS.
It shouldn’t be the only dismissal decision from UEFA. Germany, which will be the host country of the final phase, has already asked the European body to also exclude Belarus, which supports its powerful neighbor Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. The German request is official since Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA, has received a letter signed by the German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser who wishes the eviction of the Russian and Belarusian selections.