UEFA have broken their silence after Scotland were denied back-door entry to Euro 2020 despite qualifying rivals Russia being banned from major sporting events for cheating.
The Tartan Army had hoped the Russians’ punishment for flouting doping regulations would see them take their place at next summer’s showpiece as the next best team in the group.
But incredibly Euro 2020 is NOT deemed to be a major event – despite coming second only to the World Cup in terms of international football prestige.
And that means Stanislav Cherchisov’s side are free to compete in the competition despite being banned from the World Cup in Qatar two years later.
However, in an outrageous twist it has emerged Russia could still qualify for World Cup and compete on a “neutral” basis.
It leaves Scotland pinning their hopes on next March’s playoffs if they are to end a 22-year wait to reach a major finals.
The Russians – who stand accused of “the biggest sports scandal the world has ever seen” – have also been barred from competing at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo and the Winter Olympics under sanctions handed down by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
But asked if the ban would include Euro 2020, a spokesman for organisers UEFA said: “UEFA has no comment to make on the matter and we refer you to the WADA communication where it appears that Euro 2020 is not affected by the ban.”
Under that protocol the tournament isn’t viewed as a ‘Major Sporting Organisation’ by the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories.
The ISCCS lay out the rules on doping breaches and their definition of a Major Sporting Organisation is “continental association of National Olympic Committees and other international multisport organisations that function as a ruling body for any continental, regional or other international event.”
In short, because UEFA is a governing body for a single sport rather than a multiple discipline then Euro 2020 isn’t covered.
Saint Petersburg will also still allowed to host games at the event for the same reason.
Scotland finished third in qualifying group, nine points behind the second-placed Russians after losing home and away to Cherchisov’s side.
Steve Clarke ’s team now face Israel in a play-off semi-final in March with the winners facing either Norway or Serbia for a place at Euro 2020.
WADA’s executive committee imposed the ban after Russia’s Anti Doping Agency (Rusada) was declared non-compliant for manipulating laboratory data handed over to investigators earlier this year.
The data was part of a condition of its reinstatement in 2018 following a three-year suspension for state-sponsored doping.
Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said the ban was part of “chronic anti-Russian hysteria” - but that view got short shrift from Wada boss Sir Craig Reedie.
“For too long, Russian doping has detracted from clean sport,” said the Scot, adding that Russia’s “blatant breach demanded a robust response.
“This entire fiasco created by Russia has cheated far too many athletes of their dreams and rightful careers.
“Russia was afforded every opportunity to get its house in order and re-join the global anti-doping community for the good of its athletes and of the integrity of sport, but it chose instead to continue in its stance of deception and denial.
“As a result, the Wada executive committee has responded in the strongest possible terms, while protecting the rights of Russian athletes that can prove that they were not involved and did not benefit from these fraudulent acts.”
