FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday called for a ban on Russia’s participation in international football to be lifted.
FIFA (football’s global governing body) joined UEFA (European football’s governing body) in banning Russia from international events just days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as per Euronews. The ban, which has been in place for nearly four years, prevented Russia from qualifying for that year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Asked whether FIFA should lift the ban in an exclusive interview with Sky News on Monday, Infantino replied “definitely.”
“We have to, yes… at least at youth level,” he said.
The FIFA head went on to argue that the ban “has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred,” adding that he believes “having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help.”
During the same interview, Infantino expressed opposition to boycotts and bans generally – saying that FIFA should “enshrine in our statutes that we should actually never ban any country from playing football because of the acts of their political leaders.”
“I think, in our divided world, in our aggressive world, we need occasions where people can come, can meet around the passion.”
During the 2022 World Cup, Infantino rejected President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request to share a message of peace during the final – saying that FIFA had stopped “political statements” in Qatar to “take care of everyone.”
A source in Zelensky’s office said at the time that they had been surprised by this, adding that “we thought FIFA wanted to use its platform for the greater good.”
Infantino has appeared less wary about wading into politics in recent months – notably by inventing a peace prize for his close ally, US President Donald Trump, after Trump was snubbed by the Nobel Prize committee.
In the same interview with Sky News, Infantino addressed the criticism this move drew.
“Objectively, he deserves that prize. He was instrumental in resolving conflicts and saving lives and saving thousands of lives,” he said, presumably referencing Trump’s repeated false claims to have resolved at least eight global conflicts.
Infantino also pointed to Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado’s decision to give Trump her prize medal during a recent visit to the White House. US forces recently deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, abducting him from his Caracas palace at the beginning of January.
“To me, there is nothing more important than… stopping killing and stopping this kind of suffering,” Infantino said.
“I’m very fortunate to have… an excellent, a great relationship with President Trump,” he added.
Infantino is a frequent visitor to Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida residence. He was also a guest at the US president’s second inauguration last year.