Uefa announced earlier this week that it intends to allow boys’ and girls’ teams from Russia to participate in already drawn tournaments. They claim that the children should not have to suffer for what the country’s adults are doing.
One of the people who, according to Sky Sports, should have voted for this is Karl-Erik Nilsson. The chairman of the RF, who until recently was chairman of the Swedish Football Association, thus went against the RF’s line on the matter.
Sweden will organize the U17 EC for girls next summer. According to UEFA’s new announcement, Russia can participate there.
At a press conference earlier this week, Swedish Football Association chairman Fredrik Reinfeldt said:
— Then we have the National Sports Confederation’s decision that Russian participants are not allowed to participate in children’s and youth competitions here in Sweden. We also do not intend to play against Russian teams outside of Sweden.
Karl-Erik Nilsson has now dealt with the tasks. In a comment to TT, he writes.
“I do not recognize myself at all in the British media description of ExCo’s (Uefa’s executive committee) handling of the matter. Our internal conversations and the way to the decision are not something that is made public. I therefore cannot comment on how the vote took place and the result of this.”
No senior teams allowed
According to UEFA’s decision, matches with Russian youth teams cannot contain Russian flags or the national anthem. Matches may also not be played on Russian soil and the decision does not apply to Russian senior teams.
Nilsson writes further:
“However, I can state that the most important decision was that UEFA’s refusal to allow Russian national teams to participate at senior level will stand until the horrific war is over, despite great pressure to make a different decision. It is completely in line with Swedish sports and Swedish football’s view. I have no further comments on the matter.”