Russia to host Serbia in football friendly

UEFA confirmed it had given permission for the game. Russian national teams and clubs are banned from UEFA competitions, but that suspension does not apply to friendlies.

Since the invasion of Ukraine led to Russia's removal from international soccer competitions, the Russian national team has mostly organised friendlies against teams from Asia and Africa, as well as one game against Cuba in November.

A game against Bosnia-Herzegovina was planned in late 2022 but never took place following objections from some Bosnian players.

The Russian women's national team played friendlies against Belarus, China, Iran and Paraguay last year.

Serbian soccer has close ties to Russia, whose state energy firm Gazprom still sponsors storied club Red Star Belgrade after being dropped by UEFA as its long-standing commercial partner within days of the war starting in Ukraine.