FIFA Chief Denounces football Russian
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russian and Belarusian athletes and teams have been barred from most international competitions, including FIFA, UEFA, and the Olympics. Infantino said he is firmly “against bans” and “against boycotts”, arguing they achieve nothing and fuel resentment.
On whether FIFA should lift the ban, he was clear: “We have to. Yes… at least at youth level. This ban has not achieved anything.”
Infantino’s remarks come as international sports federations begin loosening restrictions on Russian athletes. Last year, the IOC allowed youth competitors from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags. Russian officials, including RFS head Alexander Dyukov and Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev, have welcomed these changes, expecting more federations to follow in 2026.
Moscow has accused Western nations of politicizing sports by pressuring federations to exclude Russian athletes. President Vladimir Putin has also stressed that athletes should be treated based on merit, asserting that “politics has no place in sport.”
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