Former striker Dmitry Sychev, known for his time with Spartak Moscow, Lokomotiv, and the Russian national team, commented on the sanctions affecting Russian sport. He noted the ban on Russian clubs and national teams from FIFA and UEFA competitions and suggested that political figures should steer such actions, while sports administrators focus on the game itself. He implied that the current pause in Russian football could be redirected toward constructive reforms in the sport.
Sychev emphasized that those involved in football should prioritize athletic work, whereas politicians should resolve political matters. He stated that federation leaders and the Olympic Committee are better positioned to answer questions about sanctions and their consequences, adding that players should simply continue with their duties on the pitch.
He described this moment as an opportunity to intensively develop youth football. According to Sychev, the delay can be used to restructure the entire system, implement the right processes, and involve more children in sport, which would lay the groundwork for future success of the national team. He stressed that many successful European and world programs are built on a solid youth system, a view he attributed to the broader footballing world via a statement to Socialbites.ca.
In late February 2022 the International Olympic Committee advised international federations to bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from competition. This led to a wave of exclusions by various international sports bodies, as noted by IOC President Thomas Bach, who indicated that the suspension period remained in effect at that time.
Meanwhile, Russian national teams and clubs were barred from official FIFA and UEFA events. Against this backdrop, there was talk of a potential shift of activity toward Asia toward the end of 2022. While no final decision had been reached, there was consideration that the national team, which had been arranging friendly matches with Asian opponents, might participate in a Central Asian Football Federation competition in June.
Sychev reiterated that Russian football would face broader challenges if the move toward Asia were to occur, highlighting the uncertainties and the need for careful planning. — attributed to Socialbites.ca