Soccer

UEFA threatens further punishments after defiant Russia launches Euro bid

UEFA threatened to suspend the Russian Football Union’s UEFA and FIFA memberships after the country’s soccer body formally declared an interest in hosting either Euro 2028 or Euro 2032.

Russia was banned from international and continental club competitions on Feb. 28 over its invasion of Ukraine.

“The UEFA Executive Committee will … remain on standby to convene further extraordinary meetings, on a regular ongoing basis where required, to reassess the legal and factual situation as it evolves and adopt further decisions as necessary, including in light of the declaration of interest expressed by the Russian Football Union (RFU) for hosting the UEFA Euro,” UEFA said in a statement Wednesday, according to The Guardian’s Paul MacInnes.

Russia’s current punishment resulted in the men’s team’s removal from the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The country is also barred from this summer’s European Women’s Championship in England and from its youth teams’ qualifiers for European Championships of various age groups.

Spartak Moscow were unable to continue their Europa League journey; their last-16 opponents, RB Leipzig, were given a bye to the quarterfinals.

The RFU said it would “support the decision to declare interest” in hosting the 2028 or 2032 European Championship following a meeting of its executive members earlier Wednesday, The Associated Press’ Rob Harris reports. RFU board member Sergei Anokhin reportedly told Match TV an official bid will be filed with UEFA.

Russia already has the facilities in place to host a major football tournament after it staged the 2018 World Cup in 12 venues across 11 different cities. The 2022 Champions League final was scheduled to be played in Saint Petersburg but was moved to the Stade de France, located just north of Paris, in February due to the war in Ukraine.

The United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland have pledged to launch a joint bid to host the European Championship in 2028, while Turkey has declared its interest in staging either the 2028 or 2032 edition. Italy is competing to host the tournament in 2032.