Athletistic / Soccer. Three-time Olympic figure skating champion and now a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Irina Rodnina spoke about the withdrawal of Russian football clubs from European Cup tournaments. On the eve of UEFA announced that Russian clubs will not play in Europe next season.

“I have long expressed my position on the exclusion of Russia from European tournaments. There is a systematic exclusion for every sport, and above all, sport interrupts all its traditions and requirements. This is especially true of the Olympic movement .

Due to the exclusion of Russian clubs from UEFA, our football teams will no longer be disgraced in European competition next season.

Are we uncompetitive in football? You can’t be competitive everywhere, it’s impossible to win everywhere. There are traditional sports where we have good coaching staff and good training. And there are uninteresting or undeveloped sports in our country. It’s a fact,” RB Sport Rodnina quotes.