Former Spartak Moscow defender Andrei Eshchenko criticized UEFA over its recent decisions regarding the so-called Championship, pointing to what he views as shifting rules and inconsistent stances. He remarked that UEFA often moves the goalposts and acts on its own discretion, making the process appear perplexing to observers who expect stability from the governing body. In his view, the initial failure to permit certain actions was itself a striking misstep, followed by changes that seemed to come out of nowhere, prompting discussions about the organization’s approach to governance and consistency (Source attribution: sports commentary on UEFA practices).
The ongoing discourse surrounding the governance of European football has touched on the participation of Russian youth teams in international competition. There is pressure within circles connected to UEFA to revisit the policy stance on Russian youth eligibility for international events. Critics argue that leadership decisions have not always been communicated in a timely fashion, with expectations that sanctions and easing measures be announced clearly ahead of their implementation in quarterly meetings and policy reviews (Source attribution: analysis of UEFA governance and Russian team eligibility discussions).
In related commentary, Svetlana Zhurova has highlighted concerns about what some describe as double standards in the treatment of Russian athletes within European sport. The discussion centers on whether policies are applied consistently across national teams and athletes, and how these decisions influence both development and competitive opportunities in youth programs (Source attribution: commentary on consistency in treatment of Russian athletes).