Not 5 and not 10 years: Match TV commentator names the date when Russia will be returned to UEFA and FIFA tournaments

Roman Naguchev, a commentator for the propaganda TV channel Match TV, expressed confidence that Russian football teams would soon return to international tournaments. In his opinion, there are agreements between Russia and FIFA on the conditions under which representatives of the aggressor country will be reinstated in the competition.

Naguchev said this in an interview with Sports.ru. He noted that the suspension of Russians from European Football Union (UEFA) tournaments, which came into force in February 2022, will last no more than five years. That is why the journalist sees no point in Russia moving to Asia.

"They will return us there as soon as possible. I am sure it is not a ten-year disqualification. I'm not even sure it's a five-year ban. I am sure that there is a certain condition, and FIFA has announced it. And this condition will definitely be fulfilled. It is clear that FIFA and UEFA do not always succeed, but they are trying very hard to act within this principle: footballers and athletes in general should be distanced from politics. I think that's what UEFA emphasises every time they say that Russia is a member of UEFA. And it will remain so," Naguchev said.

In the summer, UEFA suspended Russian clubs from the new season of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, and the national team from the Euro 2024 qualifying tournament. UEFA President Alexander Čeferin said he saw no reason for Russia's return to European football.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the Brazilian legionnaire of the St. Petersburg-based Zenit Malcom, who acquired Russian citizenship on February 24 this year, expressed his desire to leave Russia and complained about the war in Ukraine.

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