A decision on Russiaâs expulsion from the Womenâs European Championships this summer is still to be made, though UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says the organisation are keen to come to a verdict soon. Russia are one of the 16 teams to have qualified for the competition, which begins in England in July, but the country has been indefinitely suspended from all football due to Vladimir Putinâs invasion of Ukraine. However, UEFA are still yet to officially announce whether Russia will be replaced and who will take their place in the draw instead. According to ESPN, the issue of Russiaâs presence at the Euros is not due to be discussed until the next Executive Committee meeting on May 10th, though Ceferin has stressed the issue will be solved soon. âWe are in a hurry to decide this issue,â he said. âWe will have to take the decision soon.â
Why could Russia be banned?
Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a number of sanctions on athletes and sports teams associated with the country.
UEFA and FIFA confirmed in a joint statement in March that all Russian teams would be suspended from participating in club and international tournaments until further notice.
The Russian menâs team were kicked out of the World Cup play-offs as opponents Poland received a bye.Â
Spartak Moscow were also kicked from the Europa League, giving RB Leipzing a free pass to the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was disqualifieid as a director of the football club and the UK government have frozen Abramovichâs assets in the United Kingdom.
But despite Russiaâs indefinite suspension from football, the Russian Football Union submitted a bid to host Euro 2028 last month and members of the Union attended FIFAâs congress in Doha recently.Â
While it still seems almost certain they will be kicked out of Euro 2022, it appears as though it will be another month at least until a decision is made.
Who could replace Russia?
If Russia are removed from the competition then Portugal look set to replace them, having lost 1-0 to the Russians in the play-offs last year.
Portugal previously qualified for Euro 2017 but failed to make it out of the group. They did, however, secure a 2-1 victory over Scotland and only narrowly lost by the same scoreline to England.Â
If invited to take Russiaâs place, Portugal will play in Group C, which also features Switzerland, Sweden and defending champions Netherlands.