Ukraine Condemns Infantino's Remarks on Lifting Russia's Sports Ban

Tue Feb 03 2026 18:03:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faces backlash from Ukraine's sports minister for suggesting a review of Russia's ban from international competitions amidst ongoing conflict.

Ukraine's sports minister has criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his suggestion to lift the ban on Russian teams, labeling his comments as 'irresponsible' and 'infantile'. This comes as Russia continues its military aggression against Ukraine, resulting in the suspension of Russian teams from FIFA and UEFA competitions. The minister emphasized the ongoing tragedy of Ukrainian athletes, saying more than 650 have died since the escalation of conflict.

Ukraine's sports minister has called FIFA president Gianni Infantino irresponsible and infantile for stating that world football's governing body is considering lifting a ban on Russia.

Russian national teams and clubs were suspended from competitions by FIFA and UEFA in February 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine.

While the war persists, Infantino commented that this ban has not achieved anything and has only led to more frustration and hatred. He argued that allowing Russian youth to play football in Europe could foster goodwill.

Ukraine sports minister Matvii Bidnyi rejected Infantino's view, calling his statements detached from the grim reality where children are being killed. He underscored that since Russia's full-scale invasion, over 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have lost their lives, including more than 100 footballers.

Bidnyi also declared, War is a crime, not politics, insisting that as long as Russians continue their violent actions, their representation in international sports is unjustifiable. He echoed the stance of the Ukrainian Association of Football, which opposes Russia's return to international competitions.

Infantino, who received the Russian Order of Friendship medal from President Vladimir Putin after the 2018 World Cup, has faced significant scrutiny for his connections and comments on the issue. Following Russia's exclusion, they have participated in friendlies against non-Western countries, avoiding FIFA and UEFA sanctions.

Last year, the Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee criticized the International Paralympic Committee's decision to lift restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes, stating that the IPC was allowing nations involved in aggression to display their flags drenched in blood. While the IPC has modified its stance, Russian and Belarusian Para-athletes are still barred from upcoming competitions due to separate organizing committees maintaining the ban.