Former Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis commented on the reactions from several European football federations that have refused to play against Russian youth teams. He quoted Sports Express, noting that the initial response to the situation was emotional and that official FIFA declarations could steer the stance of the international community back toward participation. Kanchelskis reflected that if FIFA makes clear that the decision is not permanent, many countries would eventually align and continue matches. He suggested these boycotts might be driven more by emotion than by long-term strategic considerations, and he expressed confidence that FIFA would guide the process in the right direction and resolve the issues smoothly.
On September 6, the UEFA Executive Committee granted permission for Russian national teams under the age of 17 to take part in international tournaments with neutral status and without competing on Russian soil. This decision marked a notable shift within the ongoing governance of youth football relations amid broader sanctions and political tensions surrounding Russian teams.
Earlier, in the spring of 2022, both FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia’s participation in all competitions overseen by these bodies, effectively sidelining the national team and club sides from official events. The Russian side was allowed only to participate in friendly matches during that period.
Russia’s under-17 team had last competed in an official World Cup qualification match, suffering a 0-1 defeat to Croatia in November 2021. The suspension prevented the squad from reaching the final stages of qualification, leaving several development goals unfulfilled as sanctions and governance decisions continued to shape the trajectory of Russian football on the global stage.
There was also commentary from figures within the Hungarian Football Federation regarding UEFA’s decision to accept Russian participation under neutral terms, highlighting the mixed reactions and ongoing debate over the appropriate pathways for youth competition amid geopolitical sensitivities.