RUSSIAN CLUBS HAVE been banned by Uefa from participating in the Champions League and all other European competitions next season, European football’s governing body announced on Monday.
“Russia will have no affiliated clubs participating in Uefa club competitions in the 2022/23 season,” it said in a statement.
Russian clubs and national teams were suspended “until further notice” by Uefa in February in the wake of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian team’s exclusion from the Women’s European Championship to take place in England in July was also confirmed Monday with Portugal taking its place.
Portugal, who had lost to Russia in a qualifying play-off, will take their place in Group C alongside 2019 World Cup runners-up the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.
In addition, Uefa declared Russia’s bid to host either the 2028 or 2032 European Championship “not eligible”.
Russia’s national team had already been kicked out of the qualifying competition for this year’s World Cup in Qatar by Fifa just before a crucial play-off tie against Poland in March.
The country’s football federation initially appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport only to drop its legal challenge last month.
It was also confirmed on Monday that Russia will also play no further part in the qualifying campaign for the 2023 Women’s World Cup with all its results up to now considered null and void.
Similarly, the men’s team will not participate in the Nations League due to start in June as had been planned, meaning they will automatically be placed bottom of their group.
Uefa’s sweeping announcement also confirmed Russia’s exclusion from qualifying for the next Under-21 European Championship.
Zenit Saint Petersburg would have taken part in next season’s Champions League group stage after clinching their fourth Russian Premier League title in a row on Saturday.
The runners-up were due to enter in the third qualifying round.
The Russian football season has carried on since the start of the war, in contrast to the Ukrainian club season which was suspended immediately following the invasion and was last week abandoned without a champion being crowned.
Uefa said that the decision to kick Russia out of the bidding process for Euro 2028 and Euro 2032 was taken partly because the host nation would normally be guaranteed automatic qualification.
But Russia’s ongoing suspension means it cannot be certain that the country will be allowed to return to the international fold by then.
Turkey had also shown an interest in hosting Euro 2028, along with a joint bid by the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Turkey and Italy were the other countries to express an interest in hosting the 2032 edition.
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As it should be, we don’t want any more Russian Nazi’s like Rylov displaying Z on their sportswear when participating in the civilised world.
Probably for the best …….but saddens to see Politics taking control over sport.
@Dolphins: it’s not a new thing. South African sports people were banned due to Apartheid. I feel for the athletes, especially the very few who have spoken out against the war, and I mean very few. However I feel far more sorry for the many Ukrainian athletes who have set their sporting careers aside to take up arms to defend their country.
@Dolphins: Sorry, but I’m sad for the Ukrainian civilians being massacred by Russian troops. There’s nothing sad about Russian teams being banned from competing in international competitions. Russia in its entirety needs to be cut off.
@Gerry McCaughey: The athletes who have spoken out will understand.
@Dolphins: near a world war so shlt has to be done.
Great news for Rovers.
@Kevin: seeded .just have to avoid lech Poznan. Great to be planning for Europe unlike bohs hahahaha
@Kieran Tierney: haha your starting to sound like Mike O’Brien.. Leave off you’ve bigger fish to fry than a group of part timers
@John Kelly: there’s no bigger fish to fry than bohs …give it a rest part timers ..sure lots of part time teams have done well in the league before..any excuse from you
@Kieran Tierney: it’s a valid one! There’s a big difference between full and part time… We’ve lost 1 more game than you’s and drawn 4 or 5 more or whatever it is so in reality actually not that far away given the the resources. Cut them silly pts we threw away and we’d be a point off 2nd. As I said not bad for a bunch of lads that have full time jobs or college and play football on thd side
@John Kelly: it’s not a valid one ..st pats won the league in 2013 with part time players ..just the other day cliftonville finished a point behind full time linfield..
@John Kelly: cut silly points ? Sure if my aunt had you know what she would be my uncle..this what if makes no sense
@Kieran Tierney: I heard your good pal Kevin say last week if rovers had put all their chances away they should have scored 7 instead of 1… Just saying
@Kieran Tierney: we’ll don’t to them but still behind?
@John Kelly: *well done I meant
@John Kelly: but I didn’t say that …that’s utter nonsense of a comparison..did you read that post back before hitting send … knowing you I’m sure there will be a long detailed explanation
@Kieran Tierney: no
@Kieran Tierney: I’d say most of your aunts have more of those than you
@John O Reilly: and you were calling me a child and making a t*t of myself…if only the snooker fans could see you now in all your glory …
@John O Reilly: following me all over this site ..I must have really hit a nerve calling you out yesterday
@Kieran Tierney: Bohs living rent free in your head their Kieran.
@Kieran Tierney: “and you were calling me a child” well you talk like a child so the label fits.
Correct decision. The more Russian Federation can see their ridiculous war has consequences the better.
UEFA banned English clubs from Europe for 5 years for much less.
The Russians shouldn’t be let near European competition for the next decade.
Should have been done earlier, sure UEFA wasn’t gonna ban Russia until Sweden and the Polish FA’s refused to play them.