EDINBURGH: Russia and Ukraine should stop talking about step back in time: a joint league will not be permitted by the international football authorities writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

That categorial insistence was delivered in Edinburgh today by Jerome Valcke, secretary-general of world federation. Bt he made it clear he was also expressing the view held by European governing body UEFA.

Valcke was speaking after the annual meeting of the law-making International Football Association Board in the Scotish capital.

The issue was raised at the end of a week which saw a war of words between Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko – himself a member of the FIFA executive – and veteran pro-unification coach Valery Gazzayev.

Valcke said: “You have all heard what has been said by FIFA president [Sepp] Blatter and UEFA president [Michel] Platini. They have both been very clear. They are against it – and it cannot happen.”

# # # #