Sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev commented on the statements from the football federations of England and Ukraine about not taking part in UEFA events where the Russian national team would be admitted. He shared his views on television, emphasizing the broader stakes for the sport and the players.
The broadcaster said the move feels unusual and should be left to the federations involved. What matters most, he argued, is that the majority of teams are willing to compete. The focus, in his view, should be on those ready to welcome Russia onto the field. Otherwise, the sport would face a new wave of difficulties and could suffer measurable harm if the response is merely a gesture without substance.
He stressed that there should be no room for disagreement when it concerns younger players and the next generation. In his assessment, adults in Russia often shoulder too much responsibility for children, and he believes opening European doors to the sport would help cultivate future talent and interest in the game across the country.
On September 26, UEFA’s executive board announced that Russian youth teams under 17 would be eligible to participate in international tournaments, though they would compete without a flag or national anthem. All matches would be held outside the country, effectively placing the teams on foreign soil for competition.
The following day, England, Ukraine, along with Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania, declared that they would refuse to play against Russian squads under the new framework. This development added another layer of complexity to the already tense landscape surrounding Russia’s participation in international football.
Back in spring 2022, the football world watched as FIFA and UEFA decided to suspend Russia’s national team and all Russian clubs from competitions overseen by these organizations. The suspension marked a significant pause in Russia’s involvement at the highest levels of the sport and set the stage for ongoing discussions about participation, sanctions, and the path forward for Russian football.
Earlier statements from former Spartak players indicated that UEFA might be seeking Russia’s return to international competition, a notion that has continued to feed debate among fans, players, and officials. The evolving situation keeps the focus on how federation decisions and international responses will shape the future participation of Russian teams on the global stage. In the broader context, the question remains how teams from different nations will navigate the terms of engagement, the symbolism of the flag and anthem, and the logistics of competition in a divided political landscape. The outcome will likely influence not only immediate schedules but long-term trajectories for youth development, national pride, and the reach of European football across borders. (citation: FIFA and UEFA governance records)