German Football Federation (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf has spoken against the return of Russia to international football competitions.
"The fact is that, the situation that led to the suspension of Russian teams hasn't changed. Russia continues the war against Ukraine unabated, in violation of international law," Neuendorf said ahead of the UEFA Congress which starts on Wednesday in Belgrade.
Russian teams have been banned from international events, including UEFA competitions, since the war started in 2022.
Recently, in view of the efforts to achieve a ceasefire, there have been at least behind-the-scenes talks in the European football ruling body circles about a possible end to the ban.
However, there are still no prominent public supporters. Nevertheless, the issue is not part of the official agenda at the UEFA Congress, but it's expected to be discussed during the meeting in Belgrade on Wednesday and Thursday.
"The debate about generally lifting the sanctions are currently superfluous. The situation must first change substantially," Neundorf stressed.
