Overview
- In a Sky interview, Gianni Infantino said the suspension of Russian teams has "done nothing" and urged at least youth-level readmission.
- Ukraine condemned the proposal, with Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha calling Infantino "morally degenerate" and officials insisting the ban remain until the war ends.
- The Kremlin and Russia's football union welcomed the remarks and urged full reinstatement to international competitions.
- FIFA and UEFA barred Russia in 2022; a 2023 bid to readmit U17 sides was dropped after boycott threats, while FIFA cleared Russian U15 participation in December 2025 following an IOC recommendation.
- European resistance persists, including Germany's Bundestag sports committee chair warning that readmission would be a "fatal signal".