Ukraine Criticizes Infantino for Suggesting Lifting Russia Ban

Tue Feb 03 2026 17:58:13 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces backlash for proposing a review of Russia's suspension amid ongoing war in Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials condemning his remarks as 'irresponsible' and 'infantile'.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino's comments suggesting a potential lifting of the ban on Russian football teams have triggered significant backlash from Ukraine's sports minister. As the war continues, Ukrainian officials highlight the disconnect between football and the tragic realities in Ukraine, where over 650 athletes have died due to the conflict.

Ukraine's sports minister has called FIFA president Gianni Infantino irresponsible and infantile for suggesting that the organization may consider lifting its ban on Russia.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA suspended all Russian national teams and clubs from competitions in February 2022.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Infantino claimed that this ban has not achieved anything and noted that it has merely resulted in more frustration and animosity. He suggested that resuming games for Russian youth could foster goodwill.

In response, Ukraine's sports minister Matvii Bidnyi expressed outrage over Infantino's remarks, labeling them detached from the grim realities faced by the Ukrainian people. He emphasized that more than 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed since the onset of Russia's aggression, including over a hundred footballers.

Infantino had previously received the Russian Order of Friendship medal from President Vladimir Putin after the 2018 World Cup held in Russia. However, since the ban, Russian teams have missed out on significant international competitions, including the 2022 World Cup and UEFA's Euro 2024, and will not participate in the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

While unable to play in the major tournaments, Russia has still engaged in matches against non-Western nations without permission from FIFA or UEFA. Bidnyi remarked, War is a crime, not politics, and asserted that Russia is the entity politicizing sport to justify its violent actions.

He also aligned with the Ukrainian Association of Football in opposing any plans for Russia's return to international sports. As long as Russians continue to kill Ukrainians and politicize sport, their flag and national symbols have no place among people who respect values such as justice, integrity and fair play, he stated.

Infantino's comments have sparked further discussions around the role of sports in geopolitics, especially amidst a backdrop where the atrocities of war continue to affect countless lives.