Russian national team invited by Uefa to the tournament - to play the South Asian Championships

On February 28 last year, four days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Fifa and Uefa announced that they were suspending all Russian clubs and national teams from international matches and tournaments, a decision that would apply until further notice.

But now, just over a year later, the Russian U17 national team will participate in the South Asian Championships in Bangladesh.

Karl-Erik Nilsson not involved

The tournament is organized in collaboration with Uefa, and Russia has been invited as guests in the tournament.

And the invitation, according to the Russian Football Federation, has come from Uefa, who are co-organizers of the tournament through the "Uefa assist program", a development program that Uefa has to develop football around the world.

- It is true that the Russian Football Federation has received an invitation from Uefa to take part in a tournament in Bangladesh, in which the girls' U17 national team will participate, says a representative from the Russian Federation to the Tass news agency.

The chairman of the Swedish Football Association, Karl-Erik Nilsson, is first vice-chairman of Uefa, but claims not to have been involved in the decision to invite Russia to the tournament.

"The issue has not been raised in the UEFA bodies where I participate," he writes in a text message to SVT Sport.

But what do you think about Russia being allowed to participate, given the decision that Uefa (and Fifa) previously made regarding Russian participation?

"Uefa and Fifa's decisions that club and national teams may not participate in competitions are firm.

They have the right to participate in training matches".

SAFF does not want to comment

But how is it then that Russia will participate in this competition?

When SVT Sport contacts the South Asian Football Confederation, SAFF, they refer all questions about Russia's participation to Uefa.

And Uefa responds that, despite being co-organizers of the tournament, they are not responsible for it.

"These friendly youth development tournaments are not decided under the auspices of UEFA and therefore the current suspension of Russian teams does not apply," they write in a statement.

SVT Sport has also been in contact with Fifa, but they have chosen not to comment.

SVT Sport has also applied to the Asian Football Confederation, but they have not heard back.