UEFA will explore options for Russia‘s youth teams to return to competition for the first time since the country’s invasion of Ukraine, European football’s governing body said on Tuesday following its Executive Committee’s meeting in Limassol, Cyprus.
Following the invasion, world soccer’s governing body FIFA and UEFA decided in February 2022 that all Russian teams — national or club sides — would be suspended from participation in their competitions.
UEFA also cancelled its partnership with Russian energy company Gazprom.
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In a statement on Tuesday, UEFA said it was “aware that children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults …
“For these reasons, the UEFA Executive Committee has decided that Russian teams of minor players will be readmitted to its competitions in the course of this season.
“The Executive Committee has asked the UEFA administration to propose a technical solution that would enable the reinstatement of the Russian U17 teams (both girls and boys) even when draws have already been held.”
