Several European countries to boycott UEFA matches involving Russia.

Several more European countries have announced they would not participate in any upcoming football matches against Russia, online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda and other media reported on Sept.

27. The statements came after the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced on Sept.

26 that it would ease its restrictions and enable Russian U17 teams - comprised of players younger than 18 - to take part in European games. Official announcements from Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, England, Northern Ireland, Denmark, and Sweden stated that their football teams would not take part in any competitions involving Russian teams, The Times reported.

The Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) called for preserving the previous decision by UEFA and the International Association Football Federation (FIFA) not to allow the participation of Russian teams in international matches. Russian teams have been barred from all UEFA events after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year. The Ukrainian organization commented that the decision on Russia's return "in the midst of hostilities conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukraine is groundless and tolerates Russia's aggressive policy."

News Editor

Nate Ostiller is a News Editor.

He works on special projects as a researcher and writer for The Red Line Podcast, covering Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and focused primarily on digital misinformation, memory politics, and ethnic conflict.

Nate has a Master's degree in Russian and Eurasian Studies from the University of Glasgow, and spent two years studying abroad at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine.

Originally from the USA, he is currently based in Tbilisi, Georgia.