As the Soviet Union formally ceased to exist on 26 December 1991, so did all its organizations including the football federation.

UEFA was offered an additional qualifying tournament among former members of the Soviet Union,[1] but chose not only to ignore the offer and not to impose any sanctions against the non-existent political entity discriminating in the way against other former members of the Soviet Union, but also allowed the transnational entity to the European finals over national.

In total, the CIS squad contained seven Russians, eight Ukrainians (one born in Germany), a Georgian, a Belarusian, an Abkhazian, a Circassian, and an Ossetian.

Some players simultaneously played for other national teams such as Kakhaber Tskhadadze (Georgia) and Akhrik Tsveiba (Ukraine).

[citation needed] Oleg Salenko and Andrei Ivanov, who also signed the letter, eventually withdrew their signatures.

Some players resumed their international careers with their respective individual nations; however, many preferred to play for Russia.