UEFA has taken a pretty tough stance on Russia, all things considered, and yesterday the football organisation made a series of important decisions on the country’s future participation.
Firstly, no Russian club will be allowed to participate in European competitions next year - both men and women. Russia’s, newly vacant, automatic spot in the Champions League group stage will instead go to the champions of Scotland - either Celtic or Rangers, who were previously looking at a spot in the play-off round.
Also benefiting are the champions of Ukraine, who will now be top of the list if the spot for the title holder is no longer needed - in this case, it would be Shakhtar Donetsk making an appearance in the group stage. This is looking likely since three of the final four teams left in the tournament already have confirmed spots through their domestic league. The winners of the Serbian Cup, or the league runners-up, will now play in the qualifiers for the Europa League.
Russia will not participate in this summer's UEFA Women's EURO 2022.
— UEFA (@UEFA) May 2, 2022
Portugal, the opponent defeated by Russia in the qualifying play-offs, will now participate in Group C.
Additionally, Russian teams will not participate in UEFA club competitions next season.
More info: ⬇️
The Russian national team has also been suspended from all UEFA competitions. The women’s team had qualified for the Euro’s in England next year, but their berth will now go to Portugal, who lost to the Russians in the play-offs.
It’s also been decided that, for the Nations League, Russia will automatically be placed in the bottom spot of League B. They had been drawn to face Iceland, Israel and Albania.
If Russia's suspension is lifted in time for the Euro 2024 qualifiers draw, they will be drawn into pot 3, making their journey to the competition could be much more difficult.
ℹ A UEFA anunciou a presença de Portugal no Europeu Feminino 2022! 🇵🇹
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) May 2, 2022
🗓 6/7 - 31/7
📍 Inglaterra#VamosComTudo #TeamPortugal @UEFAWomensEURO pic.twitter.com/RPETEEGlS5
Two of the country’s international sides that have already begun tournaments will be eliminated from the competition - the women’s side taking part in qualifiers for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and the U21 team that were hoping to qualify for the 2023 U21 Euros. UEFA decided that the teams’ results would be null and void.
In the Women’s World Cup qualifiers, Denmark, who played in Russia’s group, qualified for next year’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand. Likewise Spain, who led Russia’s group in the U21 qualification table, confirmed their spot in the championship next year.
UEFA also said that the suspension will hit youth national teams and the UEFA futsal tournament - they reached the quarter-finals last year, but have been automatically banned from qualifiers for the next edition.
UEFA announced Monday that Russian clubs would be banned from all European competitions next season, and that Russia's bid for either the 2028 or 2032 Euro was 'ineligible'https://t.co/FwQ7qui6an
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 2, 2022
Finally came one of the most anticipated decisions, refusing Russia’s bids to host Euro 2028 and Euro 2032. These bids were submitted last month, after the invasion of Ukraine began, and, according to UEFA’s statement, since Russia is suspended, these two bids are ineligible.
The steps UEFA has taken are probably the biggest decisions it has had to make since suspending Yugoslavia in the 90s. But how long will it last?
Edited by Alex Smith
