Ukrainian Minister of Sports Condemns Gianni Infantino's Efforts to Lift FIFA Ban on Russia

JAKARTA - Ukrainian Minister of Sports, Matvii Bidnyi, said FIFA President Gianni Infantino's attempt to lift the ban on Russia competing at the junior level was irresponsible and childish.

Infantino said Russia's ban from competing, imposed by FIFA and UEFA after the country launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, must be lifted, at least at the junior level.

Infantino added on Sky News that the ban achieved nothing and created more frustration and hatred.

"With girls and boys from Russia being able to play football in other parts of Europe, that will help," Infantino said.

However, the statement was immediately contradicted by Matvii Bidnyi.

"Gianni Infantino's words sound irresponsible, even childish. His words separate football from the reality where children are killed."

"Let me remind you that since the start of Russia's full-scale aggression, more than 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russia."

"Among them, there were more than 100 football players. One example is Illia Perezhogin, a 10th grade student at a school in Mariupol, who was playing football at his school stadium when a Russian missile hit."

"Former futsal player Viktoriia Kotliarova died with her mother during the Kyiv shooting on December 29, 2023. She was the Kyiv Student Futsal Cup champion and winner of the Dynamo Student League tournament."

"War is a crime, not politics. It is Russia who is politicizing sport and using it to justify aggression."

"I agree with the Ukrainian Football Association, which also warns against Russia's return to international competitions."

"As long as Russia continues to kill Ukrainians and politicize sports, their flags and national symbols have no place among people who respect values such as justice, integrity, and fair play," Matvii Bidnyi said on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, local time.

On December 17, 2025, the FIFA Council announced plans for a new U-15 festival, with the boys' event to be held next year and the girls' event in 2027.

This followed a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that international sports federations allow Russian teams and athletes to compete under their national flag at the junior level.

A press release confirming the FIFA Council's decision said the event would be open to all 211 FIFA member associations.

The decision was clearly welcomed positively by the Russian Football Federation.

"We hope that next year, following (the recommendation) of the IOC, the international football regulator will make a decision that will allow our team to participate in official international tournaments."

"We hope that, taking into account the IOC's recommendations, a way will be found to include our team in the appropriate group at the next draw. We also expect a similar decision from FIFA."

"The contacts and communications that have taken place show that FIFA and UEFA view the IOC's decision positively, even though it is not binding on them," Russian Football Federation President Alexander Dyukov said when speaking on Boxing Day last year.

Dyukov said he intends to attend next week's UEFA Congress in Brussels, which will be an opportunity to discuss Russia's return.

Only, senior figures at UEFA interviewed by the Press Association remain sceptical of the lifting of the ban being practical even at junior level, amid fears that other teams would refuse to face Russia until a lasting political settlement to end the conflict is reached.