Igor Levitin told reporters about the development on Sunday
The Russian Football Federation (RFU) is not the only Russian sports federation considering a switch to Asian governance, according to President Vladimir Putin’s aide, Igor Levitin.
Russian teams, clubs and athletes are banned from many major sports after international and continental confederations such as UEFA and FIFA in football followed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendation to ban them in response to the military operation in Ukraine.
RFU President Aleksandr Dyukov informed Russian media a fortnight ago that the RFU would “consider this matter in the executive committee”, regarding the switch to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Last week, the Russian Diving Federation (RDF) chairman, Stanislav Druzhinin, said said that his organization is in talks with the International Swimming Federation (FINA) about switching to the Asian Swimming Federation (AASF) from the European Swimming League (LEN), and this has been given credence by comments Levitin made on sunday.
“The summit showed that the Olympic movement is for the athletes,” Levitin said, reacting to the Olympic summit unanimously agreeing to further explore a proposal that would “facilitate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in competitions in Asia under its auspices, while respecting the sanctions that exist.”
In addition, it should give athletes the chance to participate in qualifying events for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
“It’s not just the RFU that thinks [of moving to Asia]but all federations should make it to international competitions,” Levitin added.
“Everything depends on international federations. The world is changing, it is important that our athletes participate in competitions. An athlete must show the results [of their training].”
Levitin, speaking from Qatar, where the World Cup is currently being held, said he was not familiar with the RFU’s plans to switch to the AFC from UEFA, but stressed that the Russian national football team should be given the chance to play in official matches.
“Next is the 2026 World Cup, we should announce ourselves, show ourselves,” Levitin said.
UEFA and FIFA bans meant the Russian men’s national team could not play a qualifying semi-final for Qatar 2022, with Poland receiving a bye before beating Sweden in the final in Warsaw.
Russia have also been banned from qualifying for Euro 2024 in Germany, but have played friendlies against regional neighbors Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan from late September to late November, with another against Bosnia and Herzegovina canceled after the Balkan nation pulled out.
(RT.com)
Source: sn.dk