Famed Russian football figure Dmitry Bulykin, who wore the national team shirt and built a lengthy club career both at home and abroad, argues that the national side should not engage in matches against Media Football League squads or teams assembled largely from foreign players connected with Russian Premier League clubs. He believes such fixtures distract from the national team’s primary duty and can misrepresent the country on the global sporting stage. Bulykin’s perspective reflects a longstanding view among many veterans that the national team should remain focused on delivering top-level football for Russia, rather than pursuing exhibition games that may blur lines between domestic competition and international prestige.
Speaking publicly, Bulykin stressed that this path is not a necessary one for the national team. He noted that when Media League clubs organize these games, there is little justification because the national team is a professional symbol of the country and represents its sports credibility. The so-called legionnaires, players who ply their trade abroad, add a level of ambiguity that can complicate team chemistry and selection. Bulykin expressed confidence that the Russian Football Union understands the situation and will secure an opponent for the next training camp without compromising the team’s standards or the public image of Russian football.
Russia’s October training camp, slated to run from October 7 to 15, had not yet received an officially approved opponent from the Russian Football Union. Nevertheless, the federation stated that the camp would proceed as planned, even if no matches are scheduled during that window. This stance sits within a broader context of Russia’s standing in international football, where the team has not taken part in official international competitions since sanctions were imposed. FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia in March 2022 in response to the military operation in Ukraine, effectively isolating the national squad from the regular calendar of friendlies and tournaments.
Russia has not participated in official international tournaments since those sanctions. FIFA and UEFA suspended the national team in March 2022, a consequence of the country’s military operation in Ukraine which led to widespread restrictions on Russia’s involvement in global football. This ongoing situation complicates scheduling, player development, and the national team’s visibility on the world stage, forcing organizers to consider unconventional approaches to training and competition while the political situation remains unsettled.
Earlier, the Tajikistan national team rejected a planned friendly with Russia, underscoring the wider hesitancy among many nations to engage with Russia under the current sanction regime. The decision by Tajikistan reflected a broader trend in international football, where teams weigh the implications of facing a Russia that is largely sidelined from official competitions and subject to ongoing governance decisions from global football bodies. This broader backdrop shapes how Russian coaches and players view upcoming camps, potential opponents, and the prospects for any meaningful international preparation in the near future.