Uefa have no immediate plans to lift their suspension of Russia from European competition despite Fifa seeking to reinstate their international and club teams.
On the back of Fifa president Gianni Infantino speaking favourably about ending the ban imposed following the invasion of of Ukraine in 2022, the opinion of his Uefa counterpart Aleksander Ceferin was sought on Thursday.
The Slovenian was speaking in Brussels at the conclusion of Uefa’s 50th annual congress meeting, the yearly gathering of 55 members including the Football Association of Ireland.
While Ceferin reiterated Uefa’s position of a total suspension, he left the door ajar on the stance being revisited.
Ukraine’s football President, former striker Andriy Shevchenko, waited for Ceferin to complete his media duties to hold talks at the back of the Brussels Expo centre.
“Uefa’s position is clear and hasn’t changed but we are looking into everything every day,” said the man at the helm since Michel Platini’s controversial resignation in 2016.
“The world is changing so fast that it’s hard to follow. So let’s see what the future brings. I can comment on what Uefa is doing but not comment on what Fifa or any government who speaks out loud is.
“Today this is Uefa’s congress and I don’t want to enter into disputes here.
“If somebody says an opinion, they shouldn’t be insulted by anybody.”
Ceferin’s relationship with Infantino has been fraught but oddly he tried to downplay the thrust of the Italian’s comments.
“In principle I don’t want to comment on what others say but in this case because it was quite a predictable question I checked what he said,” explained the 58-year-old.
“I think the story became too big without special reason. He said there was too much hatred but the opposite is not enough and that we need more.
“He said we should look into it and he spoke about the youth. That children should play.
“I repeated our position many times. I’m not a media expert but the story became too big without a reason.
“Today this is Uefa’s congress and I don’t want to enter into disputes here.
“If somebody says an opinion, they shouldn’t be insulted by anybody.”
The question of Israel’s continuity in Uefa competitions may become a hot topic for Ireland if they are grouped with their senior men’s team in the Nations League series for 2026 /2027.
Ireland have a 25% chance of drawing the Israelis as top seeds in their League B group, just three months after their members overwhelmingly backed a Bohemians motion seeking their suspension by Uefa.
