In a statement released late on Tuesday, the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) urged UEFA to reconsider its decision and urged other countries not to play against Russian teams. UEFA decided after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that all Russian teams - national or club sides - would be suspended from participation in its competitions. But UEFA said on Tuesday that "children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults", and that Russian U-17 sides would be readmitted to UEFA competitions "in the course of this season". "UAF strongly condemns today's UEFA decision on the return of U-17 teams from the Russian Federation to international competitions," the UAF said, urging UEFA to stick to its blanket ban on Russian teams. England's Football Association reacted to UEFA's decision on Tuesday by saying its youth teams would not play against Russia.

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Persons: Lee Smith, UAF, Max Hunder, Timothy Heritage Organizations: Soccer, UEFA, Ukraine, Hampden, Rights, Russia's, Ukrainian Association of Football, Russian, Russian Federation, Football Association, Russia, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Christian, Thomson Locations: Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, Ukraine, European, Russian, Cyprus, Sweden, Belarus