Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, has expressed his desire to see the four-year ban on Russia’s football lifted. He raised the point that the suspension has “achieved nothing” since the international governing body of football called it after the Russian military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.
Since the beginning of the war, Russian teams and national sides have been excluded from FIFA and UEFA competitions, a measure that the football’s governing bodies took as a reaction to the conflict. Infantino, in an interview with Sky Sports, alleged that the sanctions have only pushed the anger further without leading to change.
“This ban hasn’t brought any positive effect, it has just made people even more frustrated and angry,” said the 55-year-old. “For children in Russia to be given the opportunity to play football and having matches in other parts of Europe would be a good thing.” He continued saying that football-playing nations should not be held accountable for the acts of their leaders in politics as he insisted that “someone has to keep the communication channels open.”
Infantino’s statement was met by the Ukrainian sports minister Matvii Bidnii, who cussed the remarks as “irresponsible” and “infantile”, referring to how they disconnect the sport of football from the reality of the ongoing war.
The president of UEFA, Aleksander Ceferi,n has said that Russia cannot return to the fold until the conflict ceases. Infantino also came out in support of FIFA’s move to give a peace prize to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, at the 2026 World Cup draw arguing that he “objectively deserves it” for his promoting peace in a way that is being recognized by some.
