FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly called for an end to the four-year ban on Russia’s participation in international football, arguing that the exclusion has failed to achieve its intended objectives and has instead fuelled frustration and division across the sport.
Infantino made his remarks in a recent interview with Sky Sports, saying he believes that isolating Russian teams and athletes has “not achieved anything” and has “just created more frustration and hatred.” He suggested that allowing Russian national teams and youth squads to compete again, starting with youth competitions across Europe, could help maintain sporting ties and foster unity rather than deepen sporting and political divides.
The ban on Russia, imposed by FIFA and UEFA in February 2022 following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, has kept Russian men’s, women’s, and club sides out of major tournaments including the FIFA World Cup and UEFA competitions. Infantino argued that FIFA should avoid banning any nation from playing football due to political decisions by its leaders, a stance that sets up a broader debate on the intersection of politics and sport.
Infantino’s position has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Ukraine’s sports minister, Matvii Bidnyi, who labelled the comments “irresponsible” and “infantile,” underscoring ongoing concerns about the war and its human toll. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has reiterated that lifting Russia’s ban would depend on the end of the conflict.
Russia’s potential reinstatement remains controversial, and any change to the ban would require approval from FIFA’s decision-making bodies and cooperation from member associations across Europe and beyond.
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