Ukraine’s sports minister has called Gianni Infantino’s remarks “irresponsible.”
It has been four years since all Russian clubs and national teams were banned from all competitions. Now, Infantino does not see this ban as a productive measure and wants FIFA to lift the restrictions on Russia.
Since Russia’s aggression in Ukraine began in February 2022, FIFA and UEFA have barred the country from all football. At the time, both governing bodies stated that the ban would remain in place until further notice.
The Russian Football Union (RFU) appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the previous ruling was upheld.
As a result, Russia was excluded from the 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs, the women’s team missed the 2022 European Championship, and they were also unable to compete in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Four years into the ban, Infantino told Sky Sports that it has only fueled more hatred.
“This ban has achieved nothing; rather, it has created more frustration and hatred. If Russian boys and girls could play football in other European countries, it might actually help.”
The 55-year-old FIFA chief added,
“FIFA should never ban any country from playing football because of the actions of their political leaders.”
Ukraine’s sports minister Matviy Bydny has called the FIFA president’s comments “irresponsible and childish.”
“They are separating football from reality, where children are dying.”
Last April, at the closing press conference of the UEFA Congress, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said that Russia could only be reinstated once the war in Ukraine ends.
