Belarus rejects Russia's joint league pitch amid UEFA rules
Russian football clubs were excluded from international competitions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response, the authorities suggested the creation of a joint football league for Belarus. However, this proposal was met with firm refusal due to clear regulations.
Russian clubs are currently limited to domestic league competitions. In the meantime, the Russian national football team cannot participate in international tournaments, restricting them to friendly matches, usually played against Asian teams.
The situation differs for Belarusian clubs, which retain the right to participate in European competitions. For instance, on 7 November, Dynamo Minsk is scheduled to play against Legia Warsaw in Poland as part of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Given these opportunities, the Russian authorities proposed a joint competition with Belarus.
Belarus declines Russia's proposal for joint football competitions
Belarus refused the proposal, citing FIFA regulations and the rules set by the organisation. The first vice-president of the Belarusian Football Federation (ABFF), Andrei Vasilevich, stated that "creating a joint league with Russia is impossible due to UEFA regulations", as reported by the sport24.ru website.
In his conversation with the cited website, Andrei Vasilevich mentioned that the Russian and Belarusian football associations have not fully explored the idea of joint football competitions. Nevertheless, he did not entirely dismiss the possibility of the future.
The Belarusian Football Federation and the Russian Football Union are members of UEFA. This membership means that we are prohibited from creating joint leagues or participating in them. We adhere to our obligations diligently. Perhaps there will be progress in the future, but it will not be immediate – we understand.
