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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Colin Millar

Russia banned from Euro 2024 as UEFA extend suspension from qualifying matches

Russia have been banned from Euro 2024 as UEFA confirmed the extension of their expulsion from qualification matches.

European football's governing body have extended the ban on Russian national and club sides that was initially imposed in February 2022 in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

It means the nation have been excluded from a second successive international tournament having been kicked out of the qualifying process for the World Cup.

Russian clubs and their national teams have been banned from taking part in footballing competitions by FIFA and UEFA until further notice following the attacks on Ukraine ordered by president Vladimir Putin.

As well as the nation's World Cup campaign concluding, Spartak Moscow's Europa League campaign was also brought to a close with the club thrown out of the competition.

Russia's one remaining club in European competition for the 2021/22 season had been due to play RB Leipzig in the Round of 16, but the German side were given a bye through to the last eight.

The latest development comes after Russian football chiefs began pushing UEFA to ban Oleksandr Petrakov, the manager of Ukraine after he voiced his desire to take up arms and defend his country.

Speaking in April, Petrakov also vowed he would join his countrymen on the front line if Russian forces made it to the Ukrainian capital. "I thought, if they come to Kyiv, I will pick up a weapon and defend my city," he told The Guardian. "I am 64 but I felt it was normal to do this. I think I could take two or three enemies out."

Have Your Say! Should UEFA extend their ban on Russia and its clubs ? Tell us what you think here.

Oleksandr Petrakov succeeded Andriy Shevchenko as Ukraine manager last year (Getty Images)

The quotes were carried by numerous newspapers on the continent and the Football Union of Russia (FUR) was alerted to them. Denis Rogachev, the deputy secretary general of the FUR, claims Petrakov broke UEFA rules with his comments and has written to their control, ethics and disciplinary body to call for him to be banned.

Ukrainian politician Andriy Pavelko, a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, had earlier claimed that Russia will not be in the Euro 2024 group stage draw, which is due to take play in Frankfurt, Germany, in October.

Responding to the Russian claims, Andriy Pavelko, a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, wrote in a Facebook post: "The Russian hysterics about the head coach of the national team of Ukraine Oleksandr Petrakov is not worth the slightest attention, because their ill-mannered complaint has long been considered by UEFA. Of course, there is no decision about suspension and there could not have been. There was a warning and a minor fine that the Ukraine FA will pay.

"So in vain, the Russians are trying now - on the eve of an important match of the Ukrainian national team - to distract us from preparing for the game. Everyone is as focused as possible on this and preparing to support our boys."

He then dropped the huge news regarding Russia's removal from the Euro 2024 draw: "P.S. At the same time, the Russians just have nothing to prepare for. As demanded, Russia will not be in the draw on October 9 in Frankfurt. And at least, until 2024, they won't participate in official international football competitions! Euro 2024 will not include an aggressor country! Glory to Ukraine!"

This news has yet to be confirmed by UEFA, although an announcement is expected in due course.

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