UEFA position on Russia ban 'has not changed', says Ceferin

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin stated on Thursday that the body overseeing European football is not at present thinking about reintegrating Russia into global competitions, following recent comments from FIFA head Gianni Infantino who appeared to support relaxing the restrictions on the nation.

"UEFA's stance remains straightforward and unchanged, although we review all matters on a daily basis," Ceferin commented to journalists during the UEFA Congress held in Brussels.

UEFA removed Russia from every club and international tournament in 2022 in response to the nation's incursion into Ukraine.

As a result, Russia was specifically barred from the qualification process for that year's men's World Cup in Qatar and played no role in the qualifiers for Euro 2024 or the next World Cup set for North America.

That said, the International Olympic Committee has lately suggested that sports organisations permit Russian squads to join youth events, while Infantino noted earlier this month that the exclusion "has not achieved anything".

"We have to (look at readmitting Russia). Definitely," Infantino remarked.

"This ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred.

"Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help."

Infantino's remarks drew intense anger from Ukraine, which insisted the ban must remain "as long as Russians continue to kill Ukrainians."

Ceferin, who hugged Infantino and shared photos with the FIFA leader while on stage Thursday, seemed to hint at UEFA potentially shifting its strategy.

"The world is changing so fast that it is even hard to follow. Let's see what the future brings," he added.