Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha sharply reacted to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s statement regarding the possible return of Russian teams to international football competitions.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Ukrainian Reaction to Infantino’s Proposal
In his address, Sybiha emphasized the unacceptability of lifting sanctions against Russia, which continues its armed aggression against Ukraine. He highlighted that hundreds of Ukrainian children will never be able to play football because their lives were cut short by the Russian Federation.
“679 Ukrainian girls and boys will never be able to play football – Russia killed them.”
Additionally, Sybiha noted that attempts to reconsider the ban, despite Russia’s inability to cease the war, could be perceived as a shameful precedent in the future.
FIFA’s Position and History of Suspension
Gianni Infantino, speaking in an interview with Sky News, stated that FIFA should consider the appropriateness of further suspending Russia from participating in international tournaments. He believes that the ban has not yielded the expected results and has only intensified frustration and hatred. Infantino expressed his conviction that the participation of Russian athletes in football matches on European arenas could have a positive impact.
It is worth recalling that FIFA suspended Russian teams from all international competitions in February 2022, following the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As a result, Russia was excluded from the World Cup in Qatar that same year and did not gain the right to participate in the qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.