The RFU has proposed a working group with UEFA as its plans to move to the AFC have been put to one side ©Getty Images

The Russian Football Union (RFU) has invited UEFA to create a working group as it targets the country's clubs and national teams returning to the continental body's competitions, while discussions on a potential move to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have been suspended.

Earlier in the month, a transition to the AFC was considered but a final decision was postponed and now the plans have been shelved.

"Based on the results of the discussion that took place today, it was decided, in the development of the preliminary consultations between the RFU and UEFA that have already taken place, to apply to UEFA with a proposal to create a working group, inviting UEFA to delegate three representatives to this working group," said RFU President Alexander Dyukov, as reported by Russia's official state news agency TASS.

"The task of the working group is to analyse and develop proposals, a set of measures and a roadmap of actions aimed at quickly resolving the issue of the return of Russian clubs and teams to official international tournaments.

"It is assumed that the working group will be created immediately after the holidays.

"The work of the group, the development of approaches and roadmap should be completed by April 1."

Alexander Dyukov hopes a working group will help to quickly reinstate Russian teams into UEFA competitions ©Getty Images
Alexander Dyukov hopes a working group will help to quickly reinstate Russian teams into UEFA competitions ©Getty Images

Dyukov claims that a preliminary agreement on the creation of the group has been reached with UEFA with a decision yet to come on exactly who will comprise the body.

In addition to UEFA and RFU representatives, delegates from FIFA and the International Olympic Committee are due to be invited to participate.

Dyukov is adamant that relations between the RFU and UEFA are still intact and he is eager to find new opportunities to restore the relationship.

Leonid Fedun, a member of the RFU Executive Committee has called the working group the last chance to negotiate with UEFA.

"I feel about this decision in the same way as the entire Executive Committee," he told TASS.

"We decided to create a working group, still work on this issue and decide how real the transition to Asia is, try to use the last chance to negotiate with Europe.

Leonid Fedun, a member of the RFU Executive Committee, described the working group as the last chance to negotiate with UEFA ©Getty Images
Leonid Fedun, a member of the RFU Executive Committee, described the working group as the last chance to negotiate with UEFA ©Getty Images

"Quickly, as you know, only cats are born, and this is a very complex socio-political issue, it requires a very detailed study."

There is feeling among the Executive Committee that the deadline for a decision of this magnitude has come too quickly.

RFU honorary President Vyacheslav Koloskov feels an in-depth study is needed to ascertain "how beneficial the transition will be for us and what we will get in return for what we have, bearing in mind the risks that we now have in Europe."

UEFA, alongside FIFA, banned Russian international teams and clubs from all of their competitions in February following the invasion of Ukraine.

Dyukov has said that the RFU's goal is for Russia to participate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after missing out on Qatar 2022 and the 2024 European Championships, after being excluded from the qualifying round of the latter competition by UEFA.