UEFA has reinstated Russian youth teams to its competitions but maintained a ban on the country's senior sides due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, European football's governing body said on Tuesday, September 26.
"Children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults," UEFA said in a statement following a meeting of its executive committee in Cyprus. "It is particularly aggrieving that, due to the enduring conflict, a generation of minors is deprived of its right to compete in international football."
The decision will allow all Russian Under-17 teams, male and female, to be readmitted to its competitions "in the course of this season...even when draws have already been held".
However, UEFA said Russian teams would not be able to play on Russian territory, while the country's flag, anthem and national playing kit would not be allowed either.
The body had acted swiftly to suspend all Russian teams from its competitions immediately following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
It said that "the suspension of all other teams of Russia (clubs and national teams) will remain in force until the end of the conflict in Ukraine".