Russian clubs will not participate in European competitions in 2022-2023, including the lucrative Champions League, UEFA announced on Monday, which also decided to replace Russia with Portugal for this summer’s Women’s Euro in England.
On the men’s side, the decision adopted on Monday deprives Zenit Saint Petersburg, who were crowned Russian champion in 2022, of their direct ticket to the group stage of the next C1.
In a lengthy statement, the European body listed the steps taken by its executive committee against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, which expelled the country from international sport, in reviewing all its competitions, from events to the men’s, women’s and youth clubs up to the choice of soccer.
No Russian clubs will participate in the 2022-2023 UEFA club competition season that qualifying rounds will begin in July, similar to the Champions League, Europa League or Europa League Conference, UEFA wrote.
This tough measure reinforces the sidelining of Russian soccer, which is excluded at the end of February by FIFA from the World Cup where the men’s selection can still qualify.
The Russians were not included in the play-offs at the end of March for the tournament to be held in Qatar from November 21 to December 18.
The Russian Football Federation withdrew its appeal on March 30 against FIFA’s decision to ban its selection in international competitions, accepting its exclusion at the same time.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has refused to suspend FIFA’s sanctions, but it has not ruled out future sports justice judgments on the merits of the dispute.
The Russian Federation, on the other hand, has maintained its procedure against UEFA, excluding clubs and its selections from European competitions this season, but no procedural timetable has been established at this timesaid CAS in early April.
Finally, Russia’s candidacy for the Euro association in 2028 and 2032 is being judged. not accepted of UEFA.
Source: Radio-Canada
