Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, expressed the opinion that the bans on Russian teams participating in international competitions should be lifted. This call was met with a response from the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Andriy Sibiga, who characterized Infantino as a "moral degenerate."
In an interview with Sky News, Infantino stated that it would be reasonable for Russian boys and girls to have the opportunity to participate in football in other countries in Europe. He emphasized that the existing ban has not led to positive results and has only exacerbated feelings of hatred and disappointment.
Sibiga, commenting on Infantino's words, reminded of the tragedy of 679 Ukrainian children who lost their lives due to the war, and noted that as long as Russia continues its actions, any calls to lift the bans appear particularly cynical. He also pointed out that future generations will condemn such proposals, comparing them to the Olympic Games of 1936.
After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian teams were excluded from FIFA and UEFA competitions. However, according to The Times, FIFA currently does not plan to vote on the issue of allowing Russian teams to participate in tournaments.
Infantino also opposes the exclusion of Israel from competitions, calling such a decision a "defeat." He believes that FIFA should change its rules and enshrine in its charter that banning any country from football due to the actions of its political leaders is unacceptable. The FIFA head emphasizes that sport should serve as a means to establish connections between peoples.
According to Infantino, it is important for FIFA to officially enshrine in its rules that no country should be deprived of the opportunity to play football for political reasons.
