FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he wants Russia’s four-year ban from international tournaments to be revoked because the country has “achieved nothing”.
Russian clubs and the national team have been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. “This ban achieved nothing, it only generated more frustration and hatred,” Infantino told Sky Sports.
“The possibility for girls and boys from Russia to play football in other parts of Europe would be a big help.”
Infantino stated that FIFA “should never ban any country from playing football because of the actions of its political leaders”.
“Someone needs to keep ties open,” the 55-year-old added.
Ukraine on the receiving end
Ukraine’s Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi said Infantino’s comments were “irresponsible” and “childish”.
“They dissociate football from the reality that children are being killed,” Bidnyi told Sky Sports.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin reiterated that the war in Ukraine needs to end for Russia to be reinstated, reiterating the statements made at the closing press conference of the UEFA Congress in April last year.
Peace Prize
also defended FIFA’s decision to in the 2026 World Cup draw.
“So whatever we can do to help bring peace in the world, we should do it, and for that reason, for some time we were thinking about whether we should do something to reward people who do something,” Infantino said.
“Objectively, he (Trump) deserves it.”
