Russian Football Union defends attendance at FIFA Congress

Russia insisted they had “every right” to attend FIFA Congress in Doha despite the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russian national teams and clubs have been suspended by FIFA and UEFA, but the ban does not apply to the Russian Football Union.

That has allowed Russia to declare an interest in hosting Euro 2028 or 2032 and to attend world football’s biggest annual gathering of national associations, and Alexey Sorokin of the RFU was unapologetic over his presence in Doha.

FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions▶️ https://t.co/Q2htzW3W9z pic.twitter.com/LFo1bUtqmm

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) February 28, 2022

“We are not hiding. We have every right to be here,” he said.

The RFU has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the ban, although it is thought very unlikely they can now participate in the World Cup with Poland having qualified from the play-off path which contained Russia.

“We find it kind of strange that the Russian team was not allowed to play in this (World Cup) qualification,” Sorokin added.

“It’s strange. We feel that our football players and football lovers have nothing to do with (the invasion).”

There were no public comments from any other associations questioning the RFU’s right to attend.

Ukraine football federation president Andriy Pavelko delivered an emotive video message to the Congress, stating: “During this period we have regularly received sad news of the deaths of members of the Ukrainian football community.

“They have been killed by the aggressors’ rockets from one of the biggest army in the world.

“Football has taken a back seat in our country. Ukraine has presented three Ballon d’Or winners to football and there could have been more among these