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FIFA endorses Russian as one of the world football body’s official languages

The FIFA Charter previously listed four languages approved for use in the organization’s circulation of documents and official correspondence, specifically, they were the English, Spanish, French and German

MOSCOW, March 31. /TASS/. The globe’s governing body of football, FIFA, has approved the status of the Russian language as one of the official languages used by the world federation, FIFA’s press office said in a statement on Thursday.

Yury Syomin, a former head coach of the Russian national football team, told TASS later in the day commenting on FIFA’s decision, that it was one of the most pleasant and significant decisions made on behalf of FIFA.

"Russia is an enormous football country and FIFA always treated us in the right way, we have always organized at the highest level possible tournaments the World, European and Olympic tournaments. They always received a positive appraisal," Syomin stated.

"It was a very pleasant, useful and significant decision for us today, because many countries [of the former Soviet Union] continue speaking the Russian language, our huge country deserved it," the 74-year-old football coach said.

The FIFA Charter previously listed four languages approved for use in the organization’s circulation of documents and official correspondence, specifically, they were the English, Spanish, French and German languages.

The press service of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) announced on February 28 that the Russian national team and all professional clubs representing the country were barred from taking part in FIFA tournaments.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) stated later the same decision in regard to Russian football. Both FIFA and UEFA linked their decision to Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.

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