The Russian national men’s football team will not play any friendly matches during the October international break, the Russian Football Union (RFU) told reporters Wednesday.
Russia had been in negotiations with Pakistan to play a friendly match this month, but Pakistani outlet Geo News reported that the sides could not come to an agreement.
Russia reportedly offered to host the match on Oct. 11 and cover all expenses but Pakistan refused, citing insufficient preparation time. Pakistan proposed holding the match in November.
Instead, the RFU announced it would hold a training session and fan meet at Dynamo stadium in Moscow on Oct. 10 with children from the Belgorod and Kursk regions bordering Ukraine.
The RFU said that it had finalized opponents for friendlies during the November international break, with head coach Valery Karpin telling reporters earlier Wednesday that the national team will play against Syria next month.
Russia, which is under FIFA and UEFA sanctions due to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is banned from playing in international competitions. While it can play in friendly matches, many countries have refused to play against Russia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
