"Sooner or later": ex-Spartak player says UEFA "will not do without Russia"

Former Spartak player and coach Valery Gladilin has expressed the absurd idea that the European Football Union (UEFA) and its tournaments are incomplete without teams from Russia. The ex-footballer was excited about the friendly match between the Russian national team and Euro 2024 participant Serbia.

Gladilin said this in a commentary to Gazeta.Ru. The former State Duma deputy and member of Putin's United Russia party noted that the first sparring match with Europeans since his suspension from international competitions would help his compatriots "be ready for the moment of their return."

"This match will not be a bridge for the return, but it will be useful for practice – the players and coach need to know what to be ready for when they return. Serbia is a decent team, Moscow will surely have a full stadium, and the fans miss us. Sooner or later, we will return, and political issues will disappear one day. UEFA cannot do without Russia," Gladilin said.

Earlier, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin called Russian footballers victims of their country's military aggression and complained about pressure from Ukrainians.

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.

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