England riot in response to UEFA's decision on Russia

England will refuse to play against Russia's youth teams, despite UEFA's decision to allow the country's under-17 teams to play in European competitions again this season. According to The Times, the English Football Association (FA) said it will stick to its position that the English national team of any age will not play against any national team representing Russia.

"We do not support the position of re-admitting Russia to UEFA age-group competitions and our position remains that England will not play against Russia," the FA said in a statement.

On Tuesday, UEFA's executive committee decided to partially lift the ban on Russian football, saying that "children should not be punished for actions for which only adults are responsible."

UEFA administrators will now be tasked with finding a way in which Russian youth teams - boys and girls - can be reinstated in European competitions, "even if the draw has already been made," UEFA said in a statement.

UEFA's decision was announced as a Women's Nations League game in Armenia became the first European match hold by Russian officials since the invasion of Ukraine. UEFA did not ban Russian referees, but none were selected until Vera Opeikina and three of her assistants were selected for the Armenia-Kazakhstan match this month.

Problems with traveling in Europe for Russian citizens (visa issues and limited flight options) have meant that UEFA has not appointed referees from the country, so it is not clear where Russian youth teams will now play.

Last year, UEFA terminated its Champions League sponsorship agreement with the Russian Gazprom state energy company. The 2022 Champions League finals were also moved from a Gazprom-owned stadium in St. Petersburg to Paris with three months' notice.

All Russian teams have been banned from European competitions since the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.

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