{"id":168563,"date":"2025-12-17T13:01:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T10:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/168563\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"ukraine-seeks-neutral-status-for-belarus-futsal-team-at-euro-2026","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/168563\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine seeks neutral status for Belarus futsal team at Euro 2026 \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (uefa.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

December 17, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> The Ukrainian Football Association has issued a statement, urging UEFA President Aleksander \u010ceferin to allow the Belarusian futsal team to compete at the Futsal Euro 2026 finals in a neutral status.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement stressed that the political presence of a country supporting armed aggression against Ukraine \u2013 through the display of its national symbols, anthem and flag \u2013 contradicts the fundamental values of peace, mutual respect and unity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The appeal noted that a consistent approach has been applied to Belarusian athletes since 2022: they are either allowed to compete exclusively in a neutral status or are suspended from participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allowing the Belarusian team in a neutral status will preserve the integrity of the competition, while clearly demonstrating zero tolerance for support of military aggression, Ukrainian officials argued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June, UEFA added Slovenia as a third host country for Futsal Euro 2026 to accommodate the Belarusian team, after Latvia and Lithuania banned matches involving Belarus on their territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Russia launched a full-scale war on Ukraine in early 2022 with the help of authorities in Belarus, both countries were banned from most international sporting events. Athletes from both countries were allowed to compete as neutrals at the recent Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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