October 4 – Danish FA (DBU) president Jesper Møller (pictured) has defended UEFA’s decision to let Russian U-17 national teams re-enter European competitions, refusing to disclose how he voted but opening the door to Danish teams playing Russia at youth level.
Following a week of silence and growing pressure, Møller came out fighting on Tuesday, doubling down on the UEFA executive committee decision to readmit Russian underage teams. In a statement on the DBU’s website, Møller reiterated UEFA’s viewpoint, citing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Danish FA wrote: “DBU chairman Jesper Møller wishes to comply with UEFA’s guidelines on confidentiality and thus not report from the meeting or inform about the casting of votes. On a principled level, however, Jesper Møller emphasises that DBU both supports the international sanctions against Russia and the general observance of international conventions on the protection of children.”
“DBU has for years worked for recognition, implementation and compliance with basic UN conventions in the world of sport, including in FIFA and UEFA. This applies in relation to fundamental rights, for example human rights and children’s rights, etc. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has been acceded to by 196 countries, including Denmark,” said Møller in a statement.
Møller said that Russia is breaking international rules and legislation and that “therefore, in return, we must comply with UN conventions, including those on children”, implying and almost confirming that Danish teams would be prepared to play Russian teams at the youth level.
“When the tournament rules are known, DBU will be able to discuss the decision on possible matches against Russian children at national level,” he said.
With such a stance, however, Møller is defying the position of his own organisation as well as that of the Danish Sports Confederation and the Danish government, who oppose Russian reintegration. The DBU however did not want to provide more comment to Insideworldfootball on the many questions that arose from Møller’s statement.
Møller won a convincing re-election for the executive committee at the last UEFA Congress in Lisbon but remains a controversial figure back home. Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet skewered Møller following his statement, questioning who Møller was representing in UEFA? “Right now, the obvious answer is that he represents himself,” wrote Jan Jensen. “It’s not pretty.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714305394labto1714305394ofdlr1714305394owedi1714305394sni@i1714305394tnuk.1714305394ardni1714305394mas1714305394