Advance by FIFA President Infantino: Russia’s return to football – criticism from Berlin and Brussels

As of: February 5, 2026 3:45 p.m

FIFA President Gianni Infantino calls for Russian teams to return. Anticipation is breaking out in Russia, criticism is coming from Berlin and Brussels – the football associations are silent.

EU Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef spoke out after Infantino supported a return of the Russian team. “FIFA President Infantino, values ​​are non-negotiable”wrote the Social Democrat from Malta. “Simply allowing aggressors to return to world football as if nothing had happened ignores the real security risks and the deep pain that the war has caused. Normalization is unacceptable.” Football sets the tone for global sport, Micallef also wrote. Russia’s return is also an issue in other sports associations at the IOC.

There was also opposition from the Bundestag. “To reintegrate Russia into international play in this situation would be a declaration of bankruptcy for sport, especially in football.”said the sports committee chairwoman Aydan Özoğuz (SPD) to the newspapers of the Germany editorial network. “As the most played and most followed sport in the world, football has a special responsibility. And this responsibility must be lived.”said Özoğuz. Infantino seems “having lost all moral compass”.

There was also clear criticism from Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha described Infantino as a “morally degenerate”.

Infantino: “We have to re-include Russia”

Infantino said in an interview with the Swiss media “Weltwoche”: “We will have to study specifically how to include Russia again. Sport must always be unifying.” Athletes, fans and children could not influence political decisions. Sport must remain a bridge. “The sooner everyone gets involved in a World Cup, the better.”

On the British broadcaster Sky he added that the suspension of Russian teams “definitely” must be lifted, at least with regard to youth teams. “It didn’t achieve anything. It only fueled more frustration and hatred between girls and boys.” In 2018, FIFA held the World Cup in Russia despite the annexation of Crimea, which violated international law, and Infantino subsequently received the Russian Order of Friendship from Russian head of state Vladimir Putin.

Russian IOC member: “Infantino finds our efforts very positive”

In Russia, there is now open anticipation of a return. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian news agencies, that they had taken note of Infantino’s demand for the return of the currently suspended Russian teams. “We warmly welcome this. It’s time to think about it”said Peskov.

An IOC opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics took place at La Scala in Milan on Tuesday. Russian IOC member Shamil Tarpishchev said in an interview with Sportschau that he was sitting next to Infantino.

“He (Infantino) finds our efforts to participate in competitions very positive”said Tarpishchev. He is in permanent contact with the FIFA President, who is also an IOC member. “Everything is in motion at the moment.”

UEFA and DFB: “No comment”

There are no signs of a quick decision on this. When asked by Sportschau, FIFA did not answer whether and when the FIFA Council would discuss the issue. Russia is also a member of the European confederation UEFA. “No comment”UEFA replied to a request from Sportschau.

The UEFA Congress will take place in Brussels next Thursday, where UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin may speak on the subject. The UEFA Executive Committee, which would have to vote at European level on an end to the sanction, also meets as part of the congress.

The Sportschau asked the DFB how it assessed Infantino’s initiative and how it would position itself in the relevant votes in the FIFA and UEFA committees. The DFB did not comment on the request.

Neuendorf and Watzke voted for the return of Russian U17 teams

DFL boss Hans-Joachim Watzke is a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf sits on the FIFA Council. Both agreed in autumn 2023, when the two committees decided to re-admit Russian U17 teams.

Because twelve other of the 55 European national associations refused to play against Russia, the decision was not initially implemented. England, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Romania, Ireland and Denmark as well as Ukraine announced that they would not play against Russia.

Russia’s teams were never suspended because of the war

Russia’s teams have been suspended since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In 2022, UEFA and the world association FIFA did not refer directly to Russia’s military aggression, but to “Security reasons”preserving the “Integrity of competition” and the “smooth running of the games”.

After the Russian attack began, FIFA and UEFA tried to let Russia play without a flag and anthem under the name “Russian Football Association” instead of “Russia”. A double-digit number of European associations refused to play against Russia, the DFB was not among them. That was it “the smooth running of the games” endangered. FIFA and UEFA no longer had a choice: they suspended the Russian teams from taking part in their competitions, and Russia’s association lodged an unsuccessful appeal with the International Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

Technically, the Russian association was a full part of UEFA and FIFA at all times, even after the Russian attack began. Russia’s association head Alexander Dyukov, a Gazprom manager with contacts to President Putin, was part of the powerful UEFA executive committee until April 2025, and Russian officials are still represented in the lower bodies of FIFA and UEFA. The usual payments in the millions also flowed to Moscow from both associations. The associations state that with this money they “the development of football” want to promote in the respective countries.