FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly supported ending Russia’s suspension from international football, arguing that the ban has failed to achieve its intended goals.
Russia has been excluded from global competitions since 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. However, recent guidance from the International Olympic Committee has urged sports bodies to allow Russian participation at youth level, a position Infantino appears to support.
In an interview with Sky News, the FIFA president said the exclusion has only deepened division rather than promoting progress. He noted that keeping young players away from international competition has created resentment rather than resolution.
Infantino suggested that reintegrating Russian youth teams could help ease tensions and restore dialogue through sport, adding that football should serve as a bridge in difficult times rather than a tool for prolonged isolation.
