WHAT is the reason for agreeing to an international friendly game with Russia when the country is currently under a FIFA ban? That is the question some members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are asking the leadership of the federation.
The news broke at the weekend that Russia, which has been under a FIFA ban since 2022, has scheduled international friendly games against Nigeria, Belarus, and Zambia to be played in Moscow.
The Russian Football Union (RFU) confirmed the games in a statement, which reads: “The Russian Football Union has reached agreements with the football federations of Zambia, Nigeria and Belarus to hold friendly matches in the nearest FIFA windows.
In March, Valery Karpin’s team will play against Zambia. The game will be held in Moscow, the exact time and place of the meeting will be announced later.
“On June 6, the Russian national team will play a home match with Nigeria, and on June 10 it will play away with the national team of Belarus. The venues and start times of the matches will be announced later.”
FIFA and the European football ruling body, UEFA, banned Russia from featuring in their competitions, including World Cup qualifiers and European championships.
Although the ban did not say anything specific about friendly games, a member of the board told The Guardian, yesterday that they were taken aback when they heard that the federation has agreed to a friendly game with Russia.
The official, who pleaded anonymity, said that most board members of the federation got to know about the agreement three days ago.
He said: “I don’t know how some people think…even if they are anticipating that FIFA will lift the ban, wouldn’t it have been better to allow that to happen before agreeing to any friendly with Russia.
“It is so unfortunate the way some of us will make decisions without looking at the implications.”
