Russia have declared an interest in rivalling the UK and Ireland for the right to host Euro 2028 despite their current ban from international football.
Russian clubs and national teams are currently suspended by FIFA and UEFA over the country’s invasion of Ukraine, pending the outcome of an appeal by the Football Union of Russia to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
However, that has not stopped the union’s executive committee giving its backing for a bid for 2028 and 2032, with the deadline for expressions of interest set for Wednesday.
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A post on the union’s official website outlined a number of results from Wednesday’s executive committee meeting which included to ‘support the decision to declare interest in hosting the European Championship 2028 or 2032 in Russia’.
Reports from Russia had earlier quoted an executive committee member, Sergey Anokhin, indicating an interest in bidding for the tournaments.
Sport Express said that along with the UK and Ireland, there was also a bid from Turkey and a joint one from Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia.
Russia successfully hosted the 2018 World Cup but has been exiled from the international sports community since its invasion of Ukraine a month ago, with UEFA having already stripped St Petersburg of hosting rights for this season’s men’s Champions League final.
The team have also been banished from the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar, handing play-off opponents Poland a bye into the final.
The five associations leading the UK and Ireland bid submitted a formal expression of interest to UEFA on Wednesday.
England, Wales, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland have all confirmed their interest in joint-hosting the tournament.
Sportsmail reported last week how the home bid was expected to be unchallenged – with Turkey not expected to enter the running and Russia’s own hopes looking scuppered amid the Ukraine invasion.
However, even if Russia’s bid is rejected out of hand by UEFA, England will definitely face a challenge for the Euros after Turkey performed a U-turn on their intentions.
That country’s football federation issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon which read: ‘The Turkish Football Federation has made an official candidacy application to UEFA for the 2028 European Football Championship finals to be held in Turkey.
‘UEFA will make its decision on hosting Euro 2028 after evaluating the files of the candidate countries in the upcoming period.’
The home nations’ intention to bid for Euro 2028 was announced on February 7, after a feasibility study concluded that targeting the continental finals carried greater certainty than a bid for the 2030 World Cup, which had been under consideration.
A joint statement from the five associations read: ‘With this unique partnership, we are taking the appropriate next steps and our ambition is to stage a successful UEFA Euro which will be a wonderful celebration of football for fans and teams.
‘We believe Euro 2028 would be one of the greatest sporting events ever held in the UK and Ireland.
‘This unprecedented partnership of five associations offers something special to European football, including the potential for an expanded tournament, and we are passionate about maximising the sustainability and legacy benefits for communities across the UK and Ireland.
‘Over the coming months, we will develop our proposals further, subject to the publication by UEFA of the full technical specification. This includes engaging in discussions with possible host cities and stadia to define the optimum tournament model and conducting a full costs and benefits analysis.
‘The UK and Ireland will offer an unrivalled tournament from a technical perspective – with modern, well-connected stadia and excellent infrastructure – that makes our partnership ideal to host Euro 2028.’
England had initially been readying a bid for the 2030 World Cup, before turning their attentions to the Euros after it became clear that UEFA was angling toward’s Spain’s joint bid with Portugal.
Instead, Euro 2020 was mooted as a possible sweetener – with officials fearing their World Cup hopes may have been wrecked following violence by supporters prior to the Euro final between England and Italy.
Supporters barged their way through barriers in chaotic and shameful scenes, and some made their way inside illegally before England were handed a stadium ban as a punishment.
However, UEFA view this as a one-off event caused by England’s first major final appearance for 55 years and a mass release of frustration following the emergence from lockdown — as well as placing much of the blame at the door of the Metropolitan Police for their poor security operation.
