Ukrainian soccer teams will boycott all competitions featuring Russian sides, while Poland will refuse to play against teams from the country, their national federations said on September 27 following a decision by UEFA to lift a ban on Russia's youth teams. The Ukrainian Football Association called on other UEFA members to boycott matches against Russian teams after the announcement by European soccer's governing body. The president of Poland's Football Association promptly complied, saying Polish national teams will not compete against Russian teams. England's Football Association said its position opposing play against Russian teams remained unchanged. After banning all Russian teams -- national or club sides -- from participating in its competitions following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, UEFA said on September 26 that it was "aware that children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults."
Ukraine To Boycott All UEFA Tournaments With Russian Participation
European soccer's governing body has controversially decided to let Russian youth teams return to international competition.