UEFA extends ban on Russia’s national side and clubs into next season
- Planet Sport writer
- 2 May 2022
Russia will continue to be frozen out of international competitions in the 2022/23 campaign after UEFA extended its ban on the country’s national side and clubs.
Europe's governing body first suspended Russia and its clubs in February due to the conflict in Ukraine. The ban will continue into next season, while the country's bids to host either Euro 2028 or 2032 have been dismissed.
Russia's exclusion from the Champions League is good news for the Scottish Premiership, with the league winners now set to proceed straight into the group stages - regardless of who wins this year's final.
UEFA's announcement also means Russia's men's team will not participate in the Nations League, which is set to get underway in June. As a result, the national side will be automatically relegated from League B.
The country's women's team will also be barred from competing at this year's European Championships in England. Russia will be replaced by Portugal who join Group C alongside Holland, Sweden and Switzerland.
The ban will impact on qualifying matches for the 2023 Women's World Cup and the 2023 European Under-21 Championships, with Russia's results set to be declared null and void.
The men's national side, in contrast, were due to face Poland in a World Cup qualifier last March, but the match was called off following Russia's suspension. Instead, Poland advanced automatically to the play-off final, where they beat Sweden 2-0 to book their place at the 2022 World Cup.
The ban also impacts club football as no Russian teams will be eligible to compete in Europe next season, with the country's teams banned from the Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Women's Champions League and UEFA Youth League.
Spartak Moscow were the last remaining Russian club in Europe this season and were set to compete in the Europa League knockout stages before being kicked out.
Russia have launched an appeal against the original suspension, though a date is yet to be set by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
