During a news conference at UEFA's Ordinary Congress in Lisbon, re-elected chief Aleksander Ceferin stated that lifting Russia's suspension from the organization's competitions would be difficult until the war in Ukraine ends. In February 2022, both UEFA and FIFA suspended all Russian teams from participating in their competitions following the invasion. While some international sports federations are beginning to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate, UEFA continues to monitor the situation. Ceferin stated that the decision to ban Belarus from the 2024 European Championship would require approval from the UEFA executive committee. He also expressed concern about rising levels of discrimination in Europe and suggested that harsher measures, including legal action, may be necessary.