Ukraine legend confronts FIFA president over controversial return plan
Ukrainian FA president Andriy Shevchenko has personally confronted Gianni Infantino to demand that Russia remains exiled from international football, rejecting the FIFA chief’s recent suggestion that the ban could be reassessed.
The former Chelsea and AC Milan striker tracked down the head of world football at the UEFA congress in Brussels on Friday.
It follows comments made by Infantino last week regarding a potential pathway back for Russian youth teams.
With the full-scale invasion approaching its fourth anniversary, the mere suggestion of reintegration has caused dismay across Ukraine.
A firm message delivered in Brussels
Shevchenko, who now leads his country’s football association, insisted the geopolitical situation offers no grounds for leniency.
The 2004 Ballon d’Or winner described the meeting as a direct attempt to hold the line against lifting sanctions.
“We sat down, he listened, and I conveyed my talking points,” Shevchenko said regarding the encounter.
He made it clear that “now is not the right time” to consider ending the suspension.
The 48-year-old emphasized that “the situation remains unchanged” regarding the ongoing conflict initiated in February 2022.
Controversial comments spark outrage
Tensions flared after Infantino told broadcasters earlier this week that the ban “has not achieved anything” other than creating frustration.
The Swiss-Italian administrator suggested that allowing Russian children to play football in Europe could help bridge divides.
“Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help,” Infantino claimed.
Those remarks were interpreted by Russian officials as a “good sign” for a potential return to the fold.
Government officials condemn ‘infantile’ stance
The backlash extends beyond the pitch, with Ukrainian government officials furiously condemning the FIFA president’s rhetoric.
Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi described the comments as both “irresponsible” and “infantile.”
Bidnyi argued that such proposals detach the sport from the harsh reality where children are being killed in the conflict.
Russia has been suspended from all FIFA and UEFA competitions since the invasion began, preventing participation in the World Cup and European Championships.