By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reignited a bitter debate in world football by publicly advocating for the lifting of Russia’s ban from international competitions — a suspension imposed after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In a recent interview, Infantino said the four-year suspension has “not achieved anything” and has only “created more frustration and hatred,” and indicated that FIFA should consider reinstating Russia, at least at youth level.
“We have to. Definitely,” Infantino told Sky News, arguing that isolating Russian teams has failed to influence geopolitical outcomes and that keeping sporting ties open could help bring people together.
The comments mark a significant shift from FIFA’s longstanding position since 2022, when both FIFA and UEFA suspended Russian national teams and clubs from official competitions in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Infantino’s remarks drew immediate and sharp criticism from Ukrainian officials. Ukraine’s Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi labelled the FIFA president’s suggestion “irresponsible” and “infantile,” accusing him of detaching football from the realities of a conflict that has cost thousands of lives.
A separate response described Infantino’s position as profoundly insensitive given continued hostilities, with Kyiv insisting that Russia’s ban should remain in place “as long as Russians continue to kill Ukrainians.”
Russian authorities welcomed Infantino’s stance, calling it a long-overdue reconsideration of politics’ role in sport. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that discussions on ending the ban were “positive” and reiterated Russia’s belief that its teams deserve full reinstatement in FIFA competitions.
Despite Infantino’s comments, the practical reinstatement of Russia in FIFA tournaments remains uncertain. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has repeatedly emphasised that Russia’s return to European competitions is contingent on an end to the war in Ukraine.
In the past, a partial attempt to reintegrate Russian youth teams sparked significant opposition from several European football associations, leading UEFA to abandon the proposal amid threats of boycotts.
As the debate intensifies, FIFA’s position on whether and when Russian teams could resume competitive play will be among the most closely watched issues at coming football governance meetings.