"There are no options": the legend of the Russian national team assessed the chances of Russia to return to UEFA tournaments

European Championship bronze medalist Andrey Arshavin expressed confidence that Russian teams will not return to international competitions until the war in Ukraine ends. The former Russian national team player also spoke out against the transition of the aggressor country's national association to Asia.

Arshavin said this in an interview with Sport Weekend. According to the former Zenit St. Petersburg and Arsenal London player, the level of European teams is simply incomparable to Asian ones, which is the main argument in favor of Russia not changing its football residence.

"Personally, I am against leaving the European Football Union (UEFA). I don't see any advantages. The main disadvantage is that European clubs are stronger, and the Champions League is much more popular than the Asian one. As long as the Special Military Operation (as the war against Ukraine is shamefully called in Russia - ed.) is going on, I think there are no options to return to European tournaments. But then we will probably play in European tournaments again," Arshavin said.

Earlier, the executive committee of the Russian Football Union (RFU) decided to refuse to join the Asian Confederation (AFC), complaining that no one guarantees the Russian representatives a return to international competition. It also became known that a friendly match between Russia and Serbia will be held.

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