Uefa recently stated that its “Executive Committee decided that Russian teams with minors will be readmitted to their competitions this season”, and that “the Executive Committee asked the Uefa administration to propose a technical solution that would allow the reinstatement of the Russian U17 teams (both girls and boys) even when draws have already been made”.
The decision is controversial, as the war of invasion in Ukraine is still ongoing.
Voted to welcome Russian youth teams
Sky Sports then reported that the Swedish Sports Confederation’s chairman Karl-Erik Nilsson, who is also the first vice-president of Uefa, voted for Uefa’s line to release Russian U-teams, which goes against the line of the RF and the Swedish Football Association. Nilsson, in turn, later said that he voted for an investigation into taking back Russian U-teamsas part of a package, in which Uefa also refuses Russian senior teams from participating in the organization’s tournaments.
“Nothing has changed on the ground”
Now Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed (KD) is speaking out and is coming down hard on Nilsson.
“My view is that the Swedish sports movement has in an exemplary manner kept a clear and united line regarding not opening competitions to Russian and Belarusian athletes. That is why I was surprised, and the action appears to be remarkable. Opening to Russian and Belarusian competitors risks normalizing Russia’s brutal offensive war in a situation when nothing has changed on the ground,” writes Forssmed to Fotbollskanalen.
The football channel was able to reveal on Sunday that approximately 50 special associations within the RF have been called to a crisis meeting to discuss the situation and the confidence in Nilsson. Even the RF base itself received a summons. But Monday’s extra meeting did not go as planned, as Nilsson did not attend, which he will do during a meeting on Friday.