The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) president Aleksandar Ceferin declined to spell out the differences in how Russia and Israel are treated regarding match hosting under the present circumstances, speaking to The Guardian with caution about specifics.
After the Arab-Israeli conflict reignited in October 2023, Israeli football clubs continued to participate in UEFA-governed competitions, a reality that underscored ongoing debates within European football about safety, travel, and competitive fairness in volatile regional contexts.
Ceferin indicated he preferred not to be overly explicit, noting that the federation is monitoring a range of situations. He pointed to a broader sense of global upheaval and suggested that commenting in detail would be imprudent at this time, with the overall atmosphere described as turbulent by the sport’s leadership.
Earlier, in spring 2022, FIFA and UEFA temporarily suspended the participation of the Russian national team and all Russian clubs from competitions organized by the two bodies. By 2023, Russia had not engaged in formal matches with European teams, reflecting the ongoing consequences of sanctions and the decision to exclude Russian teams from cross-border play in most UEFA and FIFA events.
Plans for a match between the Russian and Serbian national teams were set for Moscow, with the venue listed as the VTB Arena in March 2024. The most recent clash between those teams in European competition to that point had occurred in the UEFA Nations League Group B, where Serbia earned a decisive 5-0 victory under old leadership, illustrating the shifting competitive landscape in regional football during this period.
There have been statements from UEFA indicating that Russia could be considered for future participation in international tournaments under certain conditions, though such participation remained contingent on broader political and sporting developments and ongoing governance assessments.