FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on 2 February 2026 that football authorities should reconsider the exclusion of Russian teams from international competitions, arguing that the ban has failed to deliver results. Speaking publicly, he said the restrictions had generated frustration rather than progress and called for a reassessment of current policy. Infantino also voiced support for the swift return of Russian teams to youth and junior tournaments. His remarks come almost four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered unprecedented sporting sanctions. The comments have reopened a long-running dispute over whether football can be separated from geopolitics.
Infantino questions effectiveness of sanctions in international football
Infantino said football bodies were “obliged” to review the ban, maintaining that exclusion had not achieved its intended objectives. He framed his position around football’s unifying role and argued that prolonged isolation risked deepening resentment. The FIFA president’s comments were reported in a Sky News analysis of Infantino’s approach to politics and football. He has repeatedly defended the principle that sport should remain detached from political conflicts. Critics, however, argue that such reasoning overlooks the context in which the sanctions were imposed.
Push for youth competitions seen as first step
A key element of Infantino’s remarks was his endorsement of allowing Russian children’s and youth teams back into European tournaments. He said enabling Russian boys and girls to play abroad would be beneficial and should be prioritised. Similar initiatives by football authorities in recent years were halted after threats of boycotts by other national federations. The issue has remained highly sensitive, particularly in eastern and northern Europe. Another recent appearance by Infantino, covered in a separate Sky News video interview, underscored his willingness to court controversy while defending consistent positions.
Existing bans introduced after invasion of Ukraine
In February 2022, FIFA and UEFA suspended Russian national teams and clubs from international competitions following the invasion of Ukraine. The measures were among the most visible non-economic sanctions imposed on Russia and were intended to signal collective condemnation. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin later expressed regret over the exclusion of Russian youth teams, particularly at under-17 level, reflecting internal divisions within football governance. Despite these debates, the bans have remained in place due to opposition from multiple national associations.
Political, financial and reputational implications
The renewed push to reintegrate Russian teams has broader implications beyond sport. Russia has historically treated international sport as an extension of state policy and soft power, using participation to project normality and prestige. Many Russian athletes are seen by Western governments as either openly supportive of, or publicly silent about, the Kremlin’s war, a stance viewed as politically significant in an authoritarian system led by Vladimir Putin. Football’s global reach also carries major financial incentives, including broadcast revenues and sponsorship linked to the Russian market. For Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, any sporting exemption risks signalling a broader erosion of sanctions consistency, potentially weakening the overall pressure framework on Moscow.
