Russia's soccer governing body on Wed. launched a bid to host UEFA Euro 2028 and 2032 despite its teams and clubs currently being banned from international competitions over the invasion of Ukraine.
It rivals Turkey's and a UK-Ireland joint bid to host Euro 2028; while Italy and Turkey have also declared interest in hosting the 2032 edition.
Sports bans sucessfully increase pressure on Russia over their unjust invasion of Ukraine by delivering a financial and psychological blow. They compromise the image Putin and his allies carefully cultivated of a prosperous and fortified nation.
Russia has every right to attempt a bid at the UEFA Euro 2028. Sports bans are discriminatory; they're contrary to the principle that international sports should be independent of politics, and they also unfairly harm millions of Russian and foreign fans and sport itself.
Sometimes money and alliances matter more that human rights: Nobody is blocking Saudi Arabia from sports or from buying Newcastle United, despite their brutal war on Yemen.