View source for Russian Football Union

{{Short description|Governing body of association football in Russia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{National football association
| Logo               = Russian Football Union logo.svg
| Founded            = {{start date and age|1912|01|19|df=y}}
| FIFA affiliation   = 1912<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191207155146/https://www.fifa.com/associations/association/rus/about Football Union of Russia]. FIFA.</ref>
| Region             = [[UEFA]]
| Region affiliation = 1954 <small>(as [[Football Federation of USSR|Football Section of the USSR]])</small>
| President          = [[Alexander Valeryevich Dyukov|Aleksandr Dyukov]]
| Headquarters       = 7 Narodnaya Street, Moscow
| Website            = {{URL|https://www.rfs.ru/|rfs.ru}}
|Short name=RFS}}

The '''Russian Football Union''' ({{langx|ru|Российский Футбольный Союз}}, ''Rossiyskiy Futbolnyy Soyuz'' or '''RFS''') is the official governing body of [[association football]] in the [[Russia|Russian Federation]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9j1wbp2t1usC&q=soviet+union++soccer&pg=PA217|title=Historical Dictionary of Soccer|first=Tom|last=Dunmore|date=16 September 2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810871885|access-date=20 March 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> With headquarters in Moscow, it organizes Russian amateur and [[football in Russia|professional football]], including the [[Russia national football team|men's]], [[Russia women's national football team|women's]], youth, [[Russia national beach soccer team|beach soccer]], [[Russia national futsal team|futsal]] and Paralympic national teams. The RFS sanctions referees and football tournaments for the [[Russian Premier League]] and other football leagues in Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/923-Europe/7893-academy-awards|title=When Saturday Comes - Academy Awards|author=WSC 283 Sep 10|access-date=14 January 2015}}</ref> RFS is headed by [[Alexander Valeryevich Dyukov|Aleksandr Dyukov]], the CEO of [[Gazprom Neft]].{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

==Structure==
The RFS is governed by a board of directors led by a chairman, [[Nikita Simonyan]], and a director general, Aleksandr Alayev. The RFU is a member of international football bodies [[FIFA]] and [[UEFA]], and also has a relationship with the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC).

==History==
===Russian Empire===
The '''All-Russian Football Union''' (VFS) was created on 19 January 1912 and in the same year was admitted to FIFA. The Unions initially consisted of 52 organizations across the [[Russian Empire]]. All-Russian Football Union was the organizer of [[Russian Empire national football team]].{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

=== Soviet Union ===
In 1934, the ''Football Federation of USSR'' was formed initially under the name the Football Section of [[Soviet Union]]. Its organization was in accordance with the Declaration of the All-Union Council of Fitness Culture of USSR on 27 December 1934. The Section was admitted to FIFA as the Soviet organization in 1946, and admitted to UEFA in 1954. Later the Section was reorganized as the [[Football Federation of USSR]]. Concurrently with the Section and later Federation until 1972 there operated the ''Football Directorate of the Soviet Sport Committee'' which was subordinated directly to the Soviet Ministry of Sport. The Directorate was never recognized on the international level.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

===Russian Federation===

After the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], on 9 January 1992 there was formed the All-Russian Association of Football (VAF)<ref>[https://www.sportsdaily.ru/articles/ot-koloskova-do-mutko От Колоскова до Мутко]. www.sportsdaily.ru. 23 September 2016</ref> based on the RSFSR Federation of Football and headed by [[Anzor Kavazashvili]].<ref name=tass211214>[https://tass.ru/sport/13182049 Союз против Ассоциации. Как создавался чемпионат России по футболу после распада СССР]. tass.ru. 14 December 2021</ref> The VAF conference consisted of 173 delegates from the whole Russian Federation, out of which 172 voted for Kavazashvili, while Kavazashvili abstained from voting himself. The president of the former Soviet federation Koloskov decided to create a parallel organization the Russian Football Union, even though the All-Russian Association of Football (VAF) was acknowledged by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation as the only governing body of [[association football]] in the country.<ref name=tass211214/>

At the same time [[Vyacheslav Koloskov]] who was appointed a president of the Commonwealth of Independent States associations of football federations (descendant of the Soviet Union Football Federation) tried to resolve an issue of conducting the [[1992 Soviet Top League|1992 football championship]] by negotiating with the Muscovite clubs.<ref name=tass211214/>

On 31 January 1992 the president of the "supposedly still existing" RSFSR Football Federation [[Yuri Nyrkov]] announced about scheduling a conference on 8 February 1992.<ref>[https://www.championat.com/football/article-3050451-ty-pomnish-kak-vsjo-nachinalos.html Ты помнишь, как всё начиналось?..]. www.championat.com. 11 March 2008</ref>

On 8 February 1992 at the RSFSR Football Federation conference was created the modern Russian Football Union and [[Vyacheslav Koloskov]] was elected the president. At the conference, the Russian Football Union was declared a descendant of both the RSFSR Football Federation as well as the [[Football Federation of the Soviet Union]]. Using political connections, Koloskov managed to influence governing bodies of the Russian Federation and the UEFA to reconsider recognition of the All-Russian Association of Football and instead recognize his organization. The newly formed Russian Football Union eventually inherited everything from the previous associations such as the VFS and Football Federation of USSR and reinstated in FIFA on 3 July 1992. In July 1992, the [[Russian national football team]] was formed.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

====Russian invasion of Ukraine====
Due to the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], [[FIFA]] and [[UEFA]] suspended all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or clubs, until further notice.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/media-releases/origin1904-p.cxm.fifa.comfifa-uefa-suspend-russian-clubs-and-national-teams-from-all-competitions|title=FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions|website=www.fifa.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2022/03/29/6243128846163f3f228b45b6.html|title=Russia's plan to leave UEFA and join the Asian Confederation|date=29 March 2022|website=MARCA}}</ref>

After the invasion of Ukraine, [[Adidas]] suspended its long-term kit partnership with the Russian Football Union, which first began in 2008.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2022/03/02/adidas-pack-bags-russia-drop-rfu-deal/|title=Adidas pack their bags in Russia and drop RFU deal|date=2 March 2022}}</ref> Adidas had provided all Russian teams with kits and had expanded the federation's replica kit sales in the retail market.<ref name="auto"/>

During the ban, talk circulated that the RFU were considering seeking to change confederations to the [[Asian Football Confederation]], according to Match-TV broadcaster [[Dmitry Pirog]], stating, "I think the time has come to think seriously about a switch to the Asian football confederation."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-04 |title=Russian soccer ponders UEFA switch to Asia |url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/7725247/russian-soccer-ponders-uefa-switch-to-asia/ |access-date=2022-05-09 |website=The Examiner |language=en-AU}}</ref> However, [[Vyacheslav Koloskov]] opposed the idea, noting that it would "bring the death of Russian football and also we would never return to the European family."<ref name=":0" /> In any event, the switch would have to be ratified by other Asian federations. RFU president Alexander Dyukov ruled out the idea of switching to Asian football and stated that the RFU is part of UEFA and will always be so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bolnews.com/sports/2022/03/russias-football-clubs-and-national-team-considering-switching-from-europes-uefa-to-play-in-asia/|title=Russia's football clubs and national team considering switching from Europe's UEFA to play in Asia.|date=29 March 2022}}</ref> In late November 2022, Dyukov said, at an executive board meeting on behalf of TASS, that the possibility of a switch of the association to the AFC might be considered.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-27 |title=Russian Football Union looking at transferring to Asian Football Confederation |url=https://en.trend.az/world/russia/3674264.html |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Trend.Az |language=en}}</ref> On 29 December 2022, it was reported that the RFU would hold a meeting the next day to discuss resigning from UEFA, so as to join the AFC.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-29 |title=Sources: Russia considers UEFA exit, AFC move |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/russia-rus/story/4839617/russia-considering-uefa-exitmoving-to-afc-sources |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> On 30 December, following the meeting, Dyukov stated: "We are indeed considering the option of returning to UEFA competitions as soon as possible", "It is important for us to take part in the World Cup qualifiers".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/12/30/russian-football-union-votes-to-remain-in-uefa-despite-ongoing-ban-a79855|title=Russian Football Union Votes to Remain in UEFA Despite Ongoing Ban|website=The Moscow Times|date=30 December 2022}}</ref> On 20 December 2023, Russian Football Union executive committee voted against the move to [[Asian Football Confederation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The RFU Executive Committee voted against joining the Asian Football Confederation |url=https://tass.ru/sport/19590063 |website=TASS |access-date=20 December 2023 |language=ru |date=20 December 2023 |archive-date=20 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220111237/https://tass.ru/sport/19590063 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2023, FIFA and UEFA lifted their ban on Russian U-17 teams, permitting them to rejoin international competitions. This decision drew opposition from Ukraine and several other UEFA member associations. England, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, and Romania all announced their refusal to compete against any Russian U-17 teams. Subsequently, UEFA abandoned the plan.

==Presidents==
[[File:Putin on the 100th anniversary of the Russian Football Union.ogv|thumb|240px|President [[Vladimir Putin]] speaking on the centenary of the Russian Football Union]]

=== Chairmen of the Football Directorate of the RSFSR Sports Committee (1934 – 1972) ===
* [[:ru:Старостин, Александр Петрович|Alexander Starostin]] (1956–1958)

===Chairmen of RSFSR Football Federation (1959-1991)===
* [[:ru:Старостин, Александр Петрович|Alexander Starostin]] (1959–1967)
* [[Yuri Nyrkov]] (1990–1992)

===All-Russian Association of Football===
* [[Anzor Kavazashvili]] (9 January 1992 – 1992)

===Russian Football Union (1992-)===
* [[Vyacheslav Koloskov]] (8 February 1992 – 2 April 2005)
* [[Vitaly Mutko]] (2 April 2005 – 24 November 2009)
** <small>acting: [[Nikita Simonyan]] (24 November 2009 – 3 February 2010)</small>
* [[Sergei Fursenko]] (3 February 2010 – 25 June 2012)
** <small>acting: [[Nikita Simonyan]] (25 June 2012 – 3 September 2012)</small>
* [[Nikolai Tolstykh]] (3 September 2012 – 31 May 2015)
** <small>acting: [[Nikita Simonyan]] (31 May 2015 – 2 September 2015)</small>
* [[Vitaly Mutko]] (2 September 2015 – 25 December 2017)
** <small>acting: Aleksandr Alayev (25 December 2017 – 19 December 2018)</small>
** <small>acting: [[Sergey Pryadkin]] (19 December 2018 – 21 February 2019)</small>
* [[Alexander Valeryevich Dyukov|Alexander Dyukov]] (22 February 2019 – present)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.rfs.ru}} {{in lang|ru|en}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070603175108/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=rus/index.html Russia] at FIFA.com (archived 3 June 2007)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100208165812/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=RUS/index.html  Russia] at UEFA.com

{{Football in Russia}}
{{Futsal in Russia}}
{{Russia national football team}}
{{UEFA associations}}
{{Sports governing bodies of Russia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National members of UEFA|Russia]]
[[Category:Football in Russia]]
[[Category:Sports governing bodies in Russia|Football]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1912]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1992]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in Russia]]
[[Category:Association football governing bodies in Europe]]
[[Category:Association football governing bodies in Asia]]