FIFA President Gianni Infantino has apologized for a controversial joke about British football fans at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, describing it as a light-hearted remark to highlight the event's peaceful nature. In a Sky News interview, he defended awarding U.S. President Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize and urged lifting the ban on Russia from international football competitions. His comments drew sharp criticism from Ukraine amid the ongoing war.
In an exclusive interview with Sky News' Yalda Hakim on February 2, 2026, FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed backlash from a remark he made at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month. There, he joked that the 2022 Qatar World Cup was special because "for the first time in history... no Brit was arrested during a World Cup. Imagine! This is something really really special." The Football Supporters' Association labeled it a "cheap joke," and UK football policing lead Chief Constable Mark Roberts called it "neither helpful nor accurate."
Infantino apologized, stating, "I need first to apologise. It was meant to be more of a light-hearted remark to show that actually the World Cup in Qatar was a celebration, was a peaceful event." He extended regrets to fans from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, emphasizing, "offending them was not my intention." He clarified that those who riot are "criminals," not fans, and praised England's efforts to combat football violence, adding, "I'm a huge fan of English football."
Shifting to global issues, Infantino defended the December 2025 award of FIFA's new Peace Prize to Donald Trump at the 2026 World Cup draw. Acknowledging a "strong reaction," he insisted Trump "objectively, he deserves it," citing his role in "resolving conflicts and saving thousands of lives." Infantino referenced Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, who praised Trump and presented him her medal. He linked it to FIFA's slogan, "football unites the world," which "goes hand in hand with peace."
On Russia, banned by FIFA and UEFA since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Infantino said, "We have to" lift it, "definitely," as it "has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred." He advocated for Russian youth teams to compete in Europe and proposed changing FIFA statutes to "never ban any country from playing football because of the acts of their political leaders." He opposed a potential Israel ban as "a defeat" and rejected boycotts of the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, questioning, "So why football?"
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the stance, calling Infantino a "moral degenerate" and noting, "679 Ukrainian girls and boys will never be able to play football—Russia killed them." Ukrainian Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi described the comments as "irresponsible - not to say infantile," highlighting over 650 Ukrainian athletes killed. The Ukrainian Association of Football urged maintaining the ban for safety and integrity.
