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Russia to play friendly match against Serbia next year, says Russian football chief

"We have received an approval from the UEFA, but anything can happen afterwards," Alexander Dyukov added

MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. The Russian Football Union (RFU) and the Football Association of Serbia (FAS) have agreed to hold a friendly football match between the national teams next year, RFU President Alexander Dyukov said on Wednesday.

"We have inked a deal with the Serbian side," Dyukov told journalists. "We are holding a friendly football match next year in Russia."

"We have received an approval from the UEFA, but anything can happen afterwards," the RFU president added.

"We can play against various national teams, but it looks more proper playing here, on the home turf in Russia and the countries’ regions, where people adore football," Dyukov said. "We must definitely look for the all-packed stadiums’ audience."

"I cannot guarantee that the Serbian players will come to play, but we have a contract, which had been signed," the RFU president added.

The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) announced on February 28, 2022 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) made the same decision in regard to the Russian national football team’s participation in UEFA tournaments.

Both FIFA and UEFA cited Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine as being the reason for their decisions.

Since sanctions were introduced, the Russian national football squad has played a host of friendlies against other countries, namely against Kyrgyzstan (2-1), Tajikistan (0-0), Uzbekistan (0-0), Iran (1-1), Iraq (2-0), Cameroon (1-0), Kenya (2-2) and Cuba (8-0).

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