FIFA rules out immediate move on Russia ban despite Infantino’s support

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Russia’s suspension from international football should be lifted, arguing that the ban has failed to deliver positive outcomes and has instead increased frustration.

Russia has been excluded from FIFA and UEFA competitions since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite the ongoing war, Infantino supports Russia’s return to international football. Any move in that direction would likely face strong opposition from several European countries, and there are currently no plans for FIFA’s Council to vote on the issue.

In 2023, FIFA formally removed the ban on Russia at the under-17 level, but Russian youth teams have effectively remained excluded because they cannot take part in UEFA qualification tournaments. Several countries, including England, Ukraine, Poland, and Sweden, have stated they would refuse to play against Russian teams.

Infantino also said he opposed banning countries from football over political actions by their leaders, suggesting FIFA should revise its rules to prevent such exclusions in the future. He argued that continued sporting ties could help ease tensions.

The FIFA president further defended the organisation’s creation of a peace prize, which was awarded to US President Donald Trump at the draw for the 2026 World Cup. He said the prize was intended to recognise efforts to promote peace and claimed Trump had played a role in resolving conflicts. Reports indicated the award was created specifically for Trump, without consultation with the FIFA Council.

Infantino also questioned why some critics had called for a boycott of the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico over Trump’s immigration policies, while no similar calls had been made for commercial boycotts.

Additionally, he addressed backlash over a joke he made about British fans at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, saying it was meant to be light-hearted and praising efforts in England to curb football-related violence.

By Tamilla Hasanova