Football should be tool for peace not further division, Gianni Infantino says
Fifa president Gianni Infantino says he is in support of calls to lift the ban that prevents Russia from participating in footballing competitions.
In 2022, the eastern European country were banned indefinitely from participating in competitive sports, following Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
That war is still ongoing despite numerous attempts at a peace treaty, but Infantino says it is time to look at football as a tool for uniting countries.
“We have to, definitely,” Infantino told Sky Sports when asked whether Fifa would look at readmitting Russia.
“This ban has achieved nothing. It has only created more frustration and hatred. Allowing boys and girls from Russia to play football in other parts of Europe could help. It’s something we have to do, definitely, at least in the youth categories.”
Infantino has previously pushed for Russia to be restored to footballing competitions. In April 2025 he made calls at a Uefa congress for that to happen, although the proposal was proposed by many at Uefa.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has previously said that “when the war stops, [Russia] will be readmitted”.
In 2023, Uefa initially made plans to open up U-17 competitions for teams from Russia to participate, but the move broke down after it met stern opposition.
