Ukrainian football teams will boycott all competitions featuring Russian sides while Poland will refuse to play against teams from the country, said by their national federations on Thursday following a decision by UEFA to lift a ban on Russiaโs
youth sides.
โThe UAF confirms that it will not take part in any competitions involving Russian teams,โ the Ukrainian Football Association said in response to the announcement by European footballโs governing body.
It also called on other UEFA members to boycott matches against Russian teams, which the president of Polandโs Football Association promptly promised to do.
โI was surprised by yesterdayโs statement from the UEFA Executive Committee. If Russian national teams are allowed to participate in the competition, our national teams will not compete with them,โ Cezary Kulesza wrote on X, (Twitter).
โThis is the only right decision.โ Englandโs Football Association were also against the lifting of the ban by UEFA, a spokesperson telling AFP their stance had not changed: โEnglish teams will not be playing against Russiaโ.
European footballโs governing body and world governing body FIFA swiftly barred all Russian teams from competitions last year in response to Moscowโs offensive in Ukraine.
UEFA also stripped Saint Petersburg of the hosting rights of the 2022 Champions League final and cancelled a sponsorship deal with Gazprom, the Russian energy giant.
However, on Tuesday it decided to allow for the return of Russian youth teams at a meeting of its executive committee.
The decision paved the way for Russiaโs Under-17 teams, boys and girls, to be readmitted to its competitions immediately, โin the course of this seasonโฆ even when draws have already been heldโ
โThe Ukrainian Association of Football strongly condemns the decision by UEFA to return U-17 teams from Russia to international competitions,โ the UAF said in a statement late Tuesday.
Announcing the decision, UEFA argued that a โgeneration of minorsโ was being deprived of the right to compete, and that children should not be punished for the actions of adults.
However, it said Russian teams would not be able to play on Russian territory, and that the countryโs flag, anthem and national playing it would be barred.
UEFA holds its European Under-17 Championships annually, with qualifying beginning on Wednesday for the next menโs edition, a 16-team tournament due to be held in Cyprus in May and June next year.
Qualifying begins next month for next yearโs Womenโs Under-17 Euro, to be played in Sweden next May.
Ukraine has repeatedly called for blanket bans on Russia from international sporting events and has threatened to boycott the 2024 Paris Olympics if Russian and it Belarusian athletes take part.
