MOSCOW, Oct 11, Andrey Mikhailov. Interaction of the Russian Football Union (RFU) with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in the field of social responsibility has been preserved, despite sanctions in other areas, Alexey Smertin, executive secretary of the RFU social responsibility committee, head of the project office for sustainable development and social responsibility of the organization, told reporters.
«Relations with UEFA have not changed in a year and a half. Sustainable development and social responsibility are one of the few open doors. Only logistics have changed. For example, getting to Frankfurt was not easy, but this is nothing compared to the knowledge you get there and give back. It is important to convey information about the activities of the RFU in this area. I would like to note that the initiative to create a project office arose long before UEFA began to implement this direction,» Smertin said.
“Finance is not my diocese, it’s difficult for me to judge (how difficult it has become to receive funds — ed.), but UEFA will compensate for the expenses,” he noted.
In February 2022, the International Football Federation (FIFA) and UEFA suspended Russian national teams and clubs from participating in international competitions for an indefinite period due to the events in Ukraine. In September 2023, both organizations clarified that the sanctions would last until the completion of the SVO.