Gianni Infantino dynamitates international football and calls for Russia to be reintroduced into competitions
Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Monday, February 02, 2026 20:43 / Updated Monday, February 02, 2026 20:44
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (55) argued on Monday (February 2nd) that football's world governing body should lift the ban imposed on Russia from competing in international tournaments.
The Russian national team was banned by FIFA from all international football competitions immediately after the war broke out in Ukraine in early 2022. The ban remained in place, although junior teams were allowed to participate in competitions starting in 2023.
“It's something we need to do, for sure, at least at the youth level”Infantino said in an interview for Sky News, quoted by politico.eu, when asked if he would consider lifting the ban on Russia in international competitions.
“I'm against bans, I'm also against boycotts,” added the FIFA boss, who believes they “create more hatred”.
“This ban has achieved nothing; it has only created more frustration and hatred. Lifting the ban on the women's and men's youth teams I think would help,” Infantino said.
Gianni Infantino agrees that Russia should be reintroduced in competitions
According to Gianni Infantino, the participation of Russian players in football tournaments in Europe would send a positive message.
Throughout this period, Infantino has maintained close ties with US President Donald Trump, who in December awarded him the new FIFA Peace Prize, widely seen as a symbolic award, after the US president did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize despite an intense campaign to do so.
Infantino would not agree to Israel's suspension
In other news, Infantino believes that a potential ban imposed on Israel for the situation in Gaza would be “a defeat”.
“We should ensure in our statutes that no country can be banned from playing football because of the actions of its political leaders,” the FIFA president also said.
