The Ukrainian Football Association sent an official letter to its colleagues from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, as well as FIFA, UEFA and AFC on February 16 regarding the possible participation of youth teams from these countries in a tournament that is scheduled to take place in Minsk (Belarus).

"According to open sources, the participants of an international youth tournament called 'Development Cup. Belarus-2024' (U-17) include national youth teams U-16 from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, as well as a team U-17 from Uzbekistan, which are scheduled to play against the U-17 team of Belarus and the U-16 team of Russia in Minsk (Belarus) on February 18–22."

We at the UFA believe that these events cannot take place, as we insist that all Russian and Belarusian football players bear equal responsibility for war crimes committed by their countries in Ukraine and should remain banned from FIFA, UEFA and other members of the football family.

In connection with what is stated above, we request to reconsider decisions regarding the participation of youth teams in the specified event," — the letter signed by the General Secretary of the UFA, Igor Gryshchenko, states among other things.