FIFA Chief's Call to Lift Ban on Russian Players Sparks Controversy as Ukraine Pushes Back

On December 5 last year (local time), Gianni Infantino, president of the F?d?ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), presented the FIFA Peace Award to U.S. President Donald Trump (left), who was selected as the award's first recipient. UPI Yonhap News

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Gianni Infantino, president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), has sparked controversy by insisting that the ban on Russian players participating in football competitions such as the World Cup should be lifted. With the Ukrainian government strongly objecting, his remarks are being interpreted as preparation to allow Russia to take part in the North and Central America World Cup to be held in June this year.

According to Politico on the 2nd (local time), Infantino said in a media interview that "the ban on Russia's participation has achieved nothing and has only fueled frustration and hatred," adding, "Lifting the ban on Russian players would help Russian boys and girls play football in other parts of Europe, and at least in the youth category it is something that must be considered."

The ban on Russian players has been in place since shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. To this day, FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) have prohibited Russia from participating in all international competitions. In 2023, FIFA briefly lifted the ban on Russian youth players participating in the U-17 category, but immediately reversed the decision after facing strong backlash.

The Ukrainian side immediately protested Infantino's remarks. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X, a social networking service (SNS), "Six hundred seventy-nine Ukrainian boys and girls can no longer play football. Russia killed them," and went on to say, "Russia is still killing more people, yet morally corrupt individuals are proposing to lift sanctions while Russia has not even ended the war. Future generations will remember this as a disgrace that evokes the 1936 Olympics." The 1936 Olympics refers to the Berlin Olympics held under Nazi Germany.

Some observers argue that this move is aimed at granting Russia a World Cup berth ahead of the North and Central America World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June this year. Infantino has in fact been embroiled in controversy over his close ties not only with President Donald Trump but also with Russian political figures. In 2019, he received a medal from the Russian government for his contribution to bringing the 2018 World Cup to Russia.

In December last year, he further fueled controversy by naming President Trump as the first recipient of the newly created FIFA Peace Award. Explaining why he chose President Trump, Infantino argued, "It is only natural for FIFA to encourage individuals who have contributed to world peace," adding, "Objectively speaking, he fully deserves the award."

The award was presented to President Trump just one month after FIFA announced in November last year that it would establish the FIFA Peace Award. According to international sports outlet The Athletic, there was no prior consultation at all with the FIFA Council or the vice presidents, which are the usual procedures, during the creation process of the FIFA Peace Award. Because of this, suspicions have been raised that the award was designed specifically for President Trump.

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