The battle to qualify for the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament in Germany kicked off back in March 2023, with UEFA outlining the path to the latest edition of the European Championship.
All automatic qualifying places were settled in November 2023, with three more teams progressing via playoffs at the start of 2024. However, not all 55 UEFA member nations were involved in the qualification process
Germany did not need to qualify, having secured an automatic place as hosts, with Russia the other UEFA country who did not compete for a place in the tournament.
Since February 2022, FIFA and UEFA have imposed a ban on all Russian club and national teams featuring in the region’s competitions following Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade neighboring Ukraine.
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Russia were not involved in qualifying for Euro 2024 because of the ban and therefore missed out on the tournament in Germany.
Russia had qualified for six of the previous seven European Championships since becoming a FIFA member in their own right ahead of Euro ’96. The Russians only missed out in 2000, when they were eliminated in qualifying after finishing third in their group behind France and Ukraine.
There was no chance of Russia making an appearance at Euro 2024, given the ban from FIFA and UEFA.
Ukraine, meanwhile, did qualify for Euro 2024 and are competing in Group E alongside Belgium, Slovakia and Romania. On June 21 Serhiy Rebrov’s side play their second match against Slovakia having lost their opener 3-0 to Romania.
The FIFA/UEFA ban came into immediate effect in February 2022, with Russian teams removed from all relevant competitions, at club and international level.
As a result, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg were ejected from the Europa League, as the sole Russian team to reach a European club knockout stage in 2021/22, and the national team was barred from their 2022 World Cup playoff against Poland.
Announcement on Russia’s ban from football by FIFA and UEFA pic.twitter.com/P17cm55O81
FIFA initially stopped short of a full ban, preventing Russia from playing matches in their own country, with all games behind closed doors, and with limits on flags and banners in the stands. However, following a consultation with the International Olympic Committee, FIFA quickly upgraded the ban to a full expulsion.
With the conflict in Ukraine on going, there is not indication that either FIFA or UEFA intend to modify, or remove the suspension.
In anticipation of the ban, Russia opted to build a case against the verdict, but their efforts were in vain, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected an appeal in March 2022.
Russia’s subsequent place at the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League was also cancelled, with Valeri Karpin’s side only eligible to play non-competitive friendlies, against nations who agree to a fixture.
Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News.
