Overview
- Gianni Infantino told Sky News the Russia suspension "has not achieved anything" and said FIFA should even enshrine a rule against banning countries for political leaders’ actions.
- He argued for restoring youth participation as a first step, saying letting Russian boys and girls compete abroad would help reduce frustration and hatred.
- Ukraine’s sports minister Matvii Bidnyi condemned the stance as "irresponsible" and "infantile," citing hundreds of athletes killed and insisting Russian symbols have no place in competition.
- UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has said readmission should follow an end to the war, with the issue likely to be discussed at the Feb. 11 executive committee meeting in Brussels.
- Infantino defended giving the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump and rejected talk of boycotting the 2026 World Cup, saying bans and boycotts "don’t bring anything."