The Russian national soccer team has been banned from participating in the World Cup and European Championships since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but coach Gianni Infantino shares the desire to end the exile.
Gianni Infantino comes under fire from Ukraine (Image: Getty Images)
Gianni Infantino has been slammed as “infantile” and “irresponsible” by Ukraine’s sports minister after sharing his desire to overturn Russia’s ban on international football. FIFA banned the country following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the country has since been expelled from the World Cup and European Championships.
Despite there being no sign that the Russia-Ukraine war will end in the near future, Infantino shares President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to welcome his country back onto the world stage, arguing that the ban has been fruitless. “We have to do it. We definitely have to do it,” the FIFA president told Sky Sports.
“This ban has achieved nothing and has only created more frustration and hatred. It would help if Russian girls and boys could play soccer in other parts of Europe.”
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The 55-year-old also insisted in a statement that FIFA “should not ban football from any country because of the actions of its political leaders”, a claim quickly rejected by coach Matvi Bidni. Ukraine’s sports minister said: “Gianni Infantino’s words sound irresponsible, not to say infantile.
“They are separating football from the reality that children are being killed. War is a crime, not politics.
“It is Russia that is politicizing sport and using it to justify aggression. I share the position of the Ukrainian Football Association, which also warns against Russia’s return to international competition.”
“As long as Russians continue to murder Ukrainians and politicize sport, the Russian flag and national symbols have no place among people who respect values such as justice, integrity and fair play.”
Infantino also had to apologize for a “cheesy joke” at the expense of English football fans (Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The move comes after Infantino was forced to apologize earlier this week for a “cheesy joke” at the expense of English football fans. FIFA’s ninth president, who is celebrating his 10th anniversary in office, found himself under fire last month after he poked fun at the fact that not a single Briton was arrested at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
He said at the time: “For the first time in history…not a single Briton was arrested during the World Cup.
“Imagine! This is something really, really special.”
Infantino has now apologized for the jab, which was intended as a light joke. “First of all, I have to apologize. The Qatar World Cup is actually a celebration, a peaceful event, and I meant it as a light-hearted remark to show that we all came together peacefully,” he said.
“So it’s great that British fans, real fans, can come peacefully and enjoy and support their team.”
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