UEFA extends ban on Russia’s national and club sides into next season

Russia will remain frozen out of international football for the foreseeable future after UEFA extended its ban on its national and club sides competing in continental competition into next season and dismissed bids to host either Euro 2028 or Euro 2032.

Russia and its clubs have been suspended by both the European governing body and global counterpart FIFA since February following the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s Champions League exclusion means the cinch Premiership champions in Scotland will qualify directly for the group stages regardless of who wins this year’s tournament – a scenario which appeared likely as only Villarreal, 2-0 down to Liverpool going into the semi-final second leg, could prevent it.

Meanwhile the United Kingdom and Ireland have seen one of the two rivals to their joint bid to host Euro 2028 removed, even if the Russian proposal was not being taken seriously.

Monday’s announcement from UEFA means Russia’s men’s team will not take part in the Nations League which begins in June, and will automatically face relegation from League B.

The women’s team will also be barred from Euro 2022 in England and will be replaced by Portugal, the team Russia beat in the qualifying play-offs. Portugal will go into Group C to face Holland, Sweden and Switzerland.

Russia will also be barred from playing any further matches in qualifying for either the Women’s World Cup in 2023 or the 2023 European Under-21 Championships, with their results to this point declared null and void. Russia had already been excluded from the qualifying play-offs for this year’s World Cup.

No Russian teams will be eligible to play in European competition next season, barring them from the Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference