Ukraine's sports minister has launched a scathing attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, labelling his efforts to reverse Russia's global football suspension as "infantile" and "irresponsible". The condemnation comes as Infantino publicly advocates for Russia's return to international competitions, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Infantino's Controversial Stance on Russia's Football Exile
FIFA's ruling executive, alongside European football's governing body UEFA, imposed a comprehensive ban on Russian football participation at the outset of the invasion. This decisive action followed commitments from numerous European nations to refuse matches against or hosting of Russian teams. Now, four years into the conflict, Infantino has signalled his intention to dismantle this exclusion, arguing the ban has proven ineffective.
"We have to look at readmitting Russia. Definitely," Infantino stated in an interview with Sky Sports. "This ban has not achieved anything; it has just created more frustration and hatred. Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help."
Ukraine's Furious Rejection
Ukrainian Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi responded with fury to Infantino's comments, directly linking the FIFA president's words to the brutal reality of the war. Bidnyi revealed that over 100 footballers are among the more than 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed by Russian forces since the invasion began.
"Gianni Infantino's words sound irresponsible – not to say infantile," Bidnyi told Sky News. "They detach football from the reality in which children are being killed. War is a crime, not politics. It is Russia that politicises sport and uses it to justify aggression."
The minister firmly aligned himself with the Ukrainian Association of Football, which has warned against Russia's potential return to international competitions. "As long as Russians continue killing Ukrainians and politicising sport," Bidnyi asserted, "their flag and national symbols have no place among people who respect values such as justice, integrity, and fair play."
Infantino's Broader Geopolitical Interventions
The controversy over Russia's potential readmission is not the only geopolitical flashpoint involving the FIFA president. Infantino recently faced heavy criticism for awarding former US President Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during December's World Cup draw in Washington DC.
This decision drew further scrutiny following subsequent US military actions, including the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and threats from Trump regarding potential military force against Greenland. Despite the backlash, Infantino defended the award, citing Trump's role in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
"Objectively, he deserves it," Infantino insisted. "He was instrumental in resolving conflicts and saving lives and saving thousands of lives."
The FIFA president's principle that sporting bodies should "actually never ban any country from playing football because of the acts of their political leaders" now faces its most severe test. As the war in Ukraine continues with no end in sight, the debate over Russia's place in world football exposes deep divisions between the ideals of sport and the harsh realities of international conflict.
