“A window of opportunity is opening for us”: Dyukov on the transfer of the RFU to Asia, the impasse in the dialogue with UEFA and the support of the executive committee

The last meeting of the RFU executive committee in 2022 promised to be historic.

On it, a decision could be made on the transition of the federation to the AFC (Asian Football Confederation).

The discussion of the issue was planned either within the framework of the eighth item of the agenda of the event “on the participation of the RFU in other organizations”, or the 11th - “Miscellaneous”.

However, almost immediately after it began, information appeared in the media that no verdict would be issued following the meeting.

This gave rise to confidence that the members of the organization would not go for such radical changes yet.

Yes, and the head of the union, Alexander Dyukov, at a special press conference, at first raised not so burning topics.

For example, he spoke about the program for the development of youth football or about the peculiarities of the participation of clubs in amateur competitions of the RFF and MRO.

Among them were really important ones, for example, the reform of compensation payments.

According to the head, today children's coaches are not financially interested in growing football players for the national team.

It is much more important for them to assemble a team of physically powerful players in order to give results here and now.

“There must also be monetary motivation.

The specialist will be tied to getting more for preparing people for professional football.

Considered several options to increase payouts.

In the first approach, there is a certain average amount that the school spends on player training.

It is paid at the signing of the first contract.

The second involves a regular annual payment, for example, 2% of the salary that a particular athlete receives.

But this amount is still being discussed, ”Dyukov said.

The executive committee also approved the budget for 2023 and made a forecast for the annual budget for 2024.

The President stressed that in 2022, it was possible to maintain revenues at the level of the previous year.

And in the next, this part may grow by 20%.

Finally, he announced the withdrawal from the executive committee of Sergei Galitsky.

The owner of Krasnodar himself asked for this, referring to the state of health and the inability at the moment to fully fulfill his duties.

Dyukov then proceeded to discuss the most important topic - the possible change of the confederation.

He stressed that on Friday no decision was actually made in the RFU.

However, next week the members of the executive committee will continue the discussion and on Tuesday, December 27, they will make a final verdict.

The federation must give the answer to the AFC before the 31st.

The functionary explained such a rush by the desire to have time to get a place in the qualifying stage of the 2026 World Cup.

Otherwise, the Russian team runs the risk of missing it.

“We have a window of opportunity to return to international tournaments, a chance to hold official matches for both clubs and national teams.

This opportunity is provided by the transition to Asia.

Probably, the consent from UEFA will also be required.

We have information that they won't object.

We are reviewing the matter now as the “window” is open until December 31st.

Before this deadline, they must submit an application for withdrawal in order to start in the selection for the 2026 World Cup.

A delay of several days will lead to the fact that our teams will lose four years, ”explained Dyukov.

As for relations with UEFA, in his opinion, at the moment there is practically no hope for the lifting of restrictions.

And most importantly, it is completely unclear how long the process will take.

The President stressed that, starting from the end of February, work with the organization was carried out in two directions.

The courts failed to defend their rights.

The last sports authority, CAS, not only rejected the appeals of domestic clubs and the RFU, but still has not provided a reasoned decision, which makes it impossible to take further steps.

In summary, Dyukov considered it political.

The second direction is attempts at dialogue with UEFA on the subject of a gradual easing of sanctions.

However, its result was only the holding of the UEFA International Development Tournament for youth teams in Volgograd in May 2023.

But even then the organization of the competition can hardly be called a breakthrough step, because in addition to the hosts, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will take part in it.

“UEFA sees no reason to review the verdict.

They are waiting for the stabilization of the political situation.

At the moment, they are ready to discuss the possibility of the return of our youth teams.

But we are talking exclusively about discussion, no one gives any guarantees, ”Dyukov emphasized.

The leadership of domestic football is worried that even after the removal of all restrictions and the normalization of the situation, one cannot be sure that some countries will not refuse to play with Russian clubs and teams.

“We must call a spade a spade: now our return to European tournaments is under big question.

We don't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A change of confederation and a transition to Asia is a more realistic option.

We disagree with Europe ideologically.

There, politics comes first, and football comes second.

We saw it in Qatar.

Today they ask one question, tomorrow another.

The day after tomorrow they will say, conditionally, that we do not support LGBT people enough, and this will serve as a reason not to play with us, ”the president added.

At the same time, he thanked UEFA for many years of fruitful cooperation and recalled that the organization is still helping the country, for example, within the framework of educational programs.

The functionary also refused to call the desire to move to the AFC an attempt to blackmail UEFA.

According to him, in the current situation, the federation is forced to act in the interests of football players and fans, so that the former have the opportunity to play at the international level again, and the latter to watch these competitions.

At the same time, Dyukov assured: the likelihood that the AFC will accept the RFU into its ranks is very high, although its members are, among other things, "unfriendly" states: Japan, South Korea, Australia.

“No one will be able to give a written guarantee at the moment that they will take us, but they are ready to consider the appeal ... We have already played friendly matches with Asian teams and have not encountered any negative.

By comparison, in Europe the situation is completely different.

You saw this in the example of our meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina, which they themselves proposed to hold.

I had my doubts, but I agreed.

They said they would come.

Well, here we are…” the head reminded.

According to him, leaving UEFA was approved not only by most of the members of the executive committee, but also by all RPL clubs.

They will prefer the opportunity to take part in Asian tournaments to the agonizing expectation of the lifting of sanctions in Europe.

“Someone unconditionally, someone with amendments that it is better to play than not to play.

At the same time, many are beginning to understand that non-participation in official competitions can lead to the risk of changing citizenship by our football players.

Some are already being actively persuaded to do this,” said Dyukov.

A survey was also conducted among the main sponsors, and they also supported such a step, because due to the introduction of a huge number of restrictions, they actually lost the opportunity to do business with European partners.

For this reason, they themselves are forced to massively reorient themselves towards Asia.

“This is a huge market with 4 billion people.

Growing economy.

A lot of money is directed, among other things, to the development of football.

There is a serious commercial potential.

Although the prize fund of the Asian analogue of the Champions League is small, local companies can make it more serious.

If we take recent years, the growth of the world economy was primarily due to Asia - 4-5%.

At the same time, Europe gave only 1-2%.

Russian companies also operate in Asia.

For many of them, now there is simply no opportunity to work in Europe, since a complete embargo on everything has actually been introduced, ”Dyukov described the situation.

As a positive example, he cited the Russian Chess Federation, which, back in April, expressed a desire to become a member of the ACF.

Approximately at the beginning of next year, they should consider the appeal of the FSR.

Delay, on the fear of the functionary, is fraught with a loss of interest in football among children due to the lack of the opportunity to cheer for clubs and teams at international starts.

“I would not say that the path to UEFA will be closed forever, but it will not be possible to move back and forth all the time.

Children's main dream is to play.

In Asia, at least there will be an opportunity to compete with the stars at the World Cup.

This decision is neither simple nor unambiguous.

We understand the benefits of European football.

Our fans know all the clubs and follow them.

There are completely different commercial incomes, and before that, convenient logistics were established.

Certain losses will occur, but it is important to play.

If we do not do this at all, what kind of dream will we talk about?

How long are we willing to wait?

If we were told: we need to be patient for five years, we would have gathered, discussed and arranged a survey.

What if it's 10 or 15?"

he asked.

At the same time, the head does not believe that it will be less interesting to follow Asian tournaments, and interest in Russian football players in Europe will fall.

He recalled that many players from South Korea and Japan play in the leading national championships of the Old World.

“It seems to me that the issue that we raised will be discussed by other sports federations.

Most of the members of the executive committee expressed their support for the transition, someone expressed doubts.

We will continue discussions on Tuesday.

It is possible that a decision will be made to stay in UEFA, ”summed up Dyukov.