market. During the ban, talk circulated that the RFU were considering seeking to change confederations to the Asian Football Confederation, according to Match-TV broacaster Dmitry Pirog, stating, "I think the time has come to think seriously about a switch to the Asian football confederation." However, Vyacheslav Koloskov opposed the idea, noting that it would "bring the death of Russian football and also we would never return to the European family." In any event, the switch would have to be ratified by other Asian federations, including Japan. RFU president Alexander Dyukov ruled out the idea of switching to Asian football and stated that the RFU is part of UEFA and will always be so. In late November 2022, Dyukov said, at an executive board meeting on behalf of TASS, that the possibility of a switch of the association to the AFC might be considered. On 29 December 2022, the RFU will discuss on Friday to resign from UEFA to join the AFC. On 30 December, following the meeting, Dyukov stated: "We are indeed considering the option of returning to UEFA competitions as soon as possible", "It is important for us to take part in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers". Presidents Chairmen of All-Russian Football Union Arthur McPherson (January 1912 – 1914) Robert Fulda (deputy chairman) Georges Duperron (deputy chairman) Robert Fulda (1914–1915) Chairmen of USSR Football Federation Vyacheslav Koloskov (January 1990 – 1991) Lev Lebedev (May 1989 – January 1990) Boris Topornin (December 1980 – May 1989) Boris Fedosov (March 1973 – December 1980) Valentin Granatkin (June 1968 – March 1973) Leonid Nikonov (January 1968 – June 1968) Vladimir Moshkarkin (July 1967 – January 1968) Nikolai Riashentsev (January 1964 – July 1967) Valentin Granatkin (6 May 1959 – January 1964) Chairmen of Football Section of the USSR (27 December 1934 – 6 May 1959) Valentin Granatkin (1950 – 6 May 1959) Mikhail Kozlov (1937 – 1950) Aleksei Sokolov (27 December 1934 – 1937) Chairmen of the Football Directorate of the Soviet Sports Committee (27 December 1934 – 1972) Valentin Antipyonok (dates unknown) Alexander Starostin (1956–1958) Alexander Starostin (1937–1941) Russian Football Union Vyacheslav Koloskov (8 February 1992 – 2 April 2005) Vitaly Mutko (2 April 2005 – 24 November 2009) Nikita Simonyan (24 November 2009 – 3 February 2010) Sergei Fursenko (3 February 2010 – 25 June 2012) Nikita Simonyan (25 June 2012 – 3 September 2012) Nikolai Tolstykh (3 September 2012