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Already organizer of the 2018 World Cup, the Russian giant, banned from international sport, would soon like to host the big meeting of European football.
Vladimir Putin in action during the 2018 World Cup, which took place in Russia. Obviously, the president took a liking to it.
AFP
Russia, banned from world sport following the invasion of Ukraine, is a candidate for the organization of the Euro football championships in 2028 and 2032, alongside Turkey, the United Kingdom / Ireland alliance and Italy, UEFA announced on Wednesday.
“The designation of the host country” of the two competitions “will take place in September 2023”, specified the European body. Russia and Turkey are interested in hosting either edition, with the UK and Ireland eyeing Euro 2028 and Italy Euro 2032.
The Russian federation is not offside
The interest of the Russians, hosts of the 2018 World Cup, to win the organization of their first Euro has been known for a long time, but the maintenance of their candidacy seemed hypothetical given the exclusion of the country from most international competitions for several weeks.
While UEFA and Fifa suspended all Russian teams from their tournaments on February 28 “until further notice”, the Russian Football Federation (FUR) has not been directly excluded, an official told AFP. spokesperson for the European organization.
England and Italy favorites
The executive of the body nevertheless intends to “reassess the legal and factual situation” during its next meetings, in particular on April 7 and May 10, “including in the light of the declaration of interest expressed by the FUR”, has added this source.
The candidacies of Turkey and Russia shake up the British-Irish file, precociously announced by the English press on Monday as the only candidate, and which recently postponed its ambitions on Euro 2028 following having given up aiming for the 2030 World Cup.
Italy, winner of the last edition and which hosted the competition twice (1968, 1980), made its side the favorite for Euro 2032, while Euro 2024 was awarded in 2018 to the Germany preferred to Turkey.