Vyacheslav Koloskov, who serves as the Honorary President of the Russian Football Union (RFU), recently spoke in an interview with RIA News. He asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have the ability to directly resolve the ongoing issues facing international football. Koloskov emphasized that the head of state has consistently voiced a clear stance against double standards in sports, a position that is seen as protecting the integrity of competition for Russian athletes on the global stage.
Koloskov explained that Putin’s influence on the international football landscape is limited in terms of direct intervention. He noted that the president has taken a principled position against applying disparate rules to athletes from different countries. In the RFU’s view, there are no immediate legislative or policy decisions requiring presidential involvement. The RFU asserts that the necessary legal framework is in place, and that the federation has consciously paused broader engagements with certain parties to focus on stabilizing domestic football and ensuring compliance with international norms. This stance reflects a broader strategy to safeguard Russian football’s future while navigating the current geopolitical climate.
In spring 2022, the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) suspended Russia’s national team and all Russian clubs from competitions governed by their rules. Since that time, the national team has principally played friendly matches, with no participation in major tournaments under FIFA and UEFA governance. The RFU has continually framed this period as one of adaptation and reform, with an aim to preserve Russian football’s competitive spirit and prepare for a potential return to sanctioned competition when conditions permit. The suspension significantly reshaped the competitive calendar and forced a reevaluation of development plans across the domestic game and youth pathways.
Earlier, Andrey Arshavin raised questions about leadership and direction, including the idea of requesting the Russian president to establish a domestic analogue to FIFA. This line of inquiry highlights ongoing discussions about how Russia might structure its own governance of football to align with international standards while maintaining national interests. The conversation underscores broader debates about how national federations balance sovereignty with participation in global sport, the role of state actors in sports governance, and the pathways available for Russian football to reengage with international bodies when geopolitical tensions ease.