Fifa president Gianni Infantino has called for reviewing the ban on Russian teams from international football, arguing it has only fostered frustration. The comments, made in a Sky News interview, drew sharp criticism from Ukrainian officials who highlighted the ongoing war's toll on athletes. Russia's Kremlin welcomed the remarks, while Ukraine urged maintaining the exclusion.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino stated in a Sky News interview on February 2, 2026, that the governing body should consider lifting the suspension of Russian national teams and clubs from international competitions. Imposed in February 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the ban has prevented Russia from participating in events like the 2022 World Cup, Euro 2024, and 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Infantino argued, "This ban has not achieved anything. It has just created more frustration and hatred." He added that allowing Russian youth to play football in Europe "would help" and proposed amending Fifa's statutes to avoid banning countries over political leaders' actions.
Ukrainian sports minister Matvii Bidnyi responded on social media, calling the remarks "irresponsible—not to say infantile." He noted that over 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, including more than 100 footballers, have been killed since the invasion, emphasizing, "They detach football from the reality in which children are being killed." Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha labeled Infantino a "moral degenerate," stating, "679 Ukrainian girls and boys will never be able to play football—Russia killed them." The Ukrainian Football Association echoed this, arguing the ban is an "effective method of pressure" and that reinstating Russia would jeopardize competition integrity.
Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Serhii Palkin described the comments as a "complete detachment from reality," inviting Infantino to visit Ukraine to witness the war's impact, including children playing amid air-raid sirens. The Kremlin, through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, welcomed the statements as "long overdue," insisting football should not be politicized.
Uefa's executive committee meets on February 11 and holds authority over reinstatement, but president Aleksander Ceferin has said the war must end first. In 2023, Uefa briefly considered allowing Russian under-17 teams but reversed after opposition from member federations.
