Ukraine Blasts FIFA Chief Infantino After Comments on Russia’s Return to Football
Ukraine’s government has reacted angrily to recent remarks by FIFA president Gianni Infantino about the possible future of Russia in international football. The comments reopened a sensitive debate over whether Russian teams should remain banned from global competitions.
Since February 2022, Russia’s clubs and national sides have been excluded from FIFA and UEFA tournaments following the invasion of Ukraine. The suspension kept the country out of events such as the 2022 World Cup, Euro 2024 and the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Infantino suggested in a recent discussion that the restriction had failed to improve the situation and might even be worsening divisions. He mentioned that giving young Russian players chances to take part in football activities abroad could help lower hostility.
Ukraine’s sports minister, Matvii Bidnyi, rejected the idea and criticised the FIFA president’s position. He said the remarks overlook the serious human cost of the conflict and the suffering still taking place in Ukraine.
Bidnyi insisted that sports cannot be separated from what is happening on the ground. He accused Russia of using sporting platforms to promote its image while the war continues.
The minister supported the stance of Ukraine’s football authorities, who maintain that Russia should not be allowed back into competitions under the current circumstances. He said allowing their return would go against the principles that sport claims to stand for.
Although the global ban remains active, Russia has managed to arrange matches with countries outside Europe, keeping its teams active in limited ways. This has led to renewed arguments about how long the exclusion should last.
Infantino’s past ties to Russia have also drawn attention again, especially after he received an honour from the Russian government following the 2018 World Cup.
Ukraine has also voiced displeasure at decisions by other sports bodies to ease restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes. Officials in Kyiv say such moves send the wrong message while the conflict is still ongoing.