Midfielder Ruslan Litvinov, who plays for Moscow’s Spartak and serves in the Russian national team, addressed the idea of shifting domestic football’s alignment toward the Asian Confederation. He expressed his views in an interview with Sport Express.
He noted the uncertainty surrounding whether Russia can still compete for major trophies on the national stage and recognized the need to weigh major strategic options. “Is it possible to imagine a future trophy for the national team under a new confederation? It’s hard to say. People understand the situation and there is broad agreement on the reality we face. What lies ahead for European or Asian football is not yet clear to me. I haven’t analyzed all the details personally. We must assess advantages and drawbacks carefully. Making a decision that could alter Russian football for years to come is not something to rush. The goal is to ensure the best outcome, and it relies on informed judgments from experts,” Litvinov stated.
In December 2022, discussions within the Russian Football Union focused on the possibility of moving from UEFA to the Asian Football Confederation, prompted by sanctions affecting the participation of Russian clubs and the national team in international competitions.
During 2022, FIFA and UEFA imposed sanctions that prevented Russia from competing in their sanctioned events in the spring of that year. The impact of these measures extended across clubs and the national squad, influencing strategy and scheduling worldwide.
Historically, the Russian men’s team and its players faced significant hurdles on the international stage, including competitive defeats to teams from various nations. The broader context involved adapting to sanctions, reviewing federation standards, and focusing on development that can endure beyond interim restrictions. The discussion around potential realignment continues to be a topic of considerable debate among coaches, players, and federation officials, with a focus on maintaining competitive integrity and national football development. — as reported by Sport Express