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NYON, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 7: UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin during the UEFA Executive Committee Press Conference at the UEFA Headquarters, The House of the European Football, on April 7, 2022, in Nyon, Switzerland. (Photo by Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
NYON, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 7: UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin during the UEFA Executive Committee Press Conference at the UEFA Headquarters, The House of the European Football, on April 7, 2022, in Nyon, Switzerland. (Photo by Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)Kristian Skeie - UEFAGetty

Soccer

Who could replace Russia in the Women’s Euro?

UEFA has yet to make a decision regarding whether or not Russia will play in the Women’s Euro. If they don’t, here’s who could get the bid instead.

Jennifer Bubel

The UEFA Executive Committee met on Thursday in Nyon and announced that a decision still has yet to be made about whether or not Russia will be allowed to compete in the Women’s Euro 2022.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says that they are “in a hurry” to make a decision with the tournament just three months away.

Russia is one of 16 teams that have qualified for the competition, which is set to begin in July in England. However, they have been suspended from all international soccer after president Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.

The consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in soccer

Several consequences have occurred as a result of Russia’s invasion on Ukraine in the sporting world.

In the March men’s World Cup qualifying playoff against Poland, Russia was not allowed to compete.

Spartak Moscow have been kicked out of the Europa League, which meant RB Leipzig advancing to the quarterfinals.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned as owner of the club and his assets were frozen in the UK.

Who would replace Russia in the Women’s Euro 2022?

It’s likely that UEFA will decide to ban Russia from the competition. Initially, FIFA allowed Russia to play under a different name, “Football Union of Russia” but without playing their national anthem or displaying their flag, but they received so much backlash they eventually banned Russian teams from competing at all.

If Russia is indeed banned from the Women’s Euro 2022, it’s likely Portugal will take their place. Portugal lost to Russia in the playoffs last year. The UEFA regulations state that “if a team classified for an official competition could not compete, UEFA itself must replace it and, in that case, decide which team would occupy its place according to the results obtained from the previous qualifiers.” If Portugal replaces Russia this year, they would be playing in Group C along with Switzerland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.