"Set the world standard": Russian Federation names UEFA's "real position" on Russia

The President of the European Football Union (UEFA), Alexander Čeferin, allegedly intends to maintain Russia's membership in the organization despite sanctions over Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The Slovenian official has a "warm and positive" attitude toward representatives of the terrorist state.

This was stated by the Secretary General of the Russian Football Union (RFU) Maxim Mitrofanov in an interview with the propaganda publication Sport-Express. According to the official, Russia's withdrawal from UEFA is allegedly disadvantageous to no one, and the entire organization is working to return teams from the aggressor country to the competition.

"I personally talked to Čeferin. He is in such a mood: "I don't want to let go of Russia. This is the last thing I will do." In general, he takes a defensive position. He is in favor of dynamic development, but without shocks. He has a positive and warm attitude towards Russia. The real position of the football community is that Russia should return to competitions. Everyone remembers the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2020, when our country set the world standard in terms of infrastructure and organization. Everyone wants to play at these stadiums, come and watch. No one benefits from Russia's absence," Mitrofanov said.

Earlier, former Spartak player and coach Valery Gladilin expressed the absurd idea that UEFA and its tournaments are incomplete without teams from Russia.

Last year, UEFA tried to return the Russian youth national team to the European Championship qualifying tournament, but faced a stiff rebuff from various countries. More than a dozen federations announced a boycott of the match with the team from the aggressor country. After that, UEFA reversed its decision.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, UEFA President Alexander Čeferin has expressed admiration for Olympic champion Pavel Kolobkov's desire to return Russians to tournaments.

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