UEFA abandons plan to lift the Under-17 ban on Russian teams

"The agenda point was withdrawn as no technical solution to allow Russian teams to play could be found," UEFA said of the plan, which was fiercely opposed by Ukraine and other soccer federations.

The Ukrainian Football Association welcomed the decision.

"UEFA will not allow U-17 teams of Russia to compete. We thank our European partners for supporting Ukraine!" the association wrote on its website. "Russian football remains isolated, that is, where it belongs."

The Russian Football Union did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which Moscow calls a 'special military operation', UEFA decided that all Russian teams - national or club sides - would be suspended from participation in its competitions.

But European soccer's governing body said last month that "children should not be punished for actions whose responsibility lies exclusively with adults", and that Russia's U-17 sides would be readmitted to UEFA competitions "in the course of this season".