Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushes for Russia’s comeback in soccer competitions: UEFA’s position revealed

April 4, 2025
in Soccer
0
Home Soccer
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

Saudi Pro League move next to unite with Cristiano Ronaldo? Vinicius gives six-word Real Madrid contract renewal hint

FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 7: Kagawa, Barcelona stars and claret-and-blue clubs

Franco Mastantuono leaves River Plate: When will the wonderkid arrive—and could he finish the FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid?

At the 49th UEFA Congress in Belgrade, FIFA president Gianni Infantino reignited a controversial discussion: the potential return of Russia to international soccer. While his statement was framed around the hope for peace in Ukraine, the reaction it drew from UEFA and the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) was stark—and firm.

Yet, what UEFA said about this possibility reveals a far more complex dynamic at play behind soccer’s governing bodies, global politics, and the unifying—or dividing—power of sport.

Standing before European soccer leaders, Infantino expressed a desire that Russia may soon be welcomed back into the international fold, but only if such a return symbolized an end to war. His words were hopeful, even idealistic, and reflected soccer’s long-standing ambition to serve as a force for unity.

“As talks are going on for peace in Ukraine, I hope that we can soon move to the next page: bring back, as well, Russia in the soccer landscape. Because this would mean that everything is solved,” Infantino said. “That’s what we have to cheer for, that’s what we have to pray for — because that is what soccer is about. It’s not about dividing, it’s about uniting girls, uniting boys, uniting people from wherever they are.”

Russia has been banned from all FIFA and UEFA competitions since February 2022, following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This includes both national teams and club sides across all age groups. The suspension has now lasted over three years.

UEFA stands firm

Infantino’s remarks quickly drew attention—and drew a line in the sand. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin made it clear: there would be no return for Russia while the war persists. “As I’ve said many times before, when the war stops, they will be readmitted,” he stated firmly at the closing press conference of the congress.

His comments echo the governing body’s long-standing position, one that was first enacted in February 2022, when the UEFA Executive Committee, in conjunction with the FIFA Council, suspended Russian teams from all international competitions.

Behind the scenes, UEFA insiders told Diario AS that there was no official discussion of reinstating Russian teams during the Congress, as such decisions fall outside its procedural competence. Still, Infantino’s comments were enough to prompt strong reactions across Europe—particularly in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Football Association responds

The Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) responded with an official letter addressed to UEFA and national soccer associations across Europe, reminding them of the decision taken in 2022 and warning against backtracking.

“We are grateful to the soccer family for the immediate response at the beginning of the full-scale war unleashed against us by Russia… and for keeping the teams of the aggressor country away from international soccer for the past three years,” the UAF wrote.

They also criticized past attempts to partially lift the ban—such as the brief proposal to allow Russian U-17 teams into UEFA competitions in 2023, a move that was later rescinded after widespread backlash.

“The return of Russians to competitions under the auspices of UEFA and FIFA threatens a split in the soccer family and poses a direct threat to the safety and integrity of such international competitions,” the UAF concluded.

Still, reports indicate that UEFA director Zoran Lakovic had expressed hopes in Russian media that by 2025, “Russian sport will finally return to its former place.” These conflicting signals have left European soccer walking a political tightrope.



Source link

Tags: Aleksander CeferincomebackcompetitionsFIFAGianniGianni InfantinoInfantinopositionpresidentpushesRevealedRussiaRussiassoccerUEFAUEFAsUkraineWorld Soccer News
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

Saudi Pro League move next to unite with Cristiano Ronaldo? Vinicius gives six-word Real Madrid contract renewal hint

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
Saudi Pro League move next to unite with Cristiano Ronaldo? Vinicius gives six-word Real Madrid contract renewal hint

In a summer filled with transfer rumors and blockbuster speculation, one of Real Madrid’s most electrifying stars is at the center of a contract conundrum that’s sparking intrigue...

Read more

FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 7: Kagawa, Barcelona stars and claret-and-blue clubs

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 7: Kagawa, Barcelona stars and claret-and-blue clubs

FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword returns for its seventh episode.We’re by now well-versed in standard quizzes, but we wanted to mix things up by blending a classic crossword with football...

Read more

Franco Mastantuono leaves River Plate: When will the wonderkid arrive—and could he finish the FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid?

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
Franco Mastantuono leaves River Plate: When will the wonderkid arrive—and could he finish the FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid?

Franco Mastantuono may have just closed the chapter on his River Plate journey, but the Real Madrid story is only just beginning. Still only 17, the Argentine wonderkid is...

Read more

Brentford reject second bid from Manchester United for Bryan Mbeumo worth £62.5m

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
Brentford reject second bid from Manchester United for Bryan Mbeumo worth £62.5m

Brentford have turned down an improved transfer offer from Manchester United for Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo.United’s latest proposal is worth up to £62.5 million, consisting of £55 million...

Read more

Matias Soule discusses what it was like for him as a Juventus player

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
Matias Soule discusses what it was like for him as a Juventus player

Matias Soule is one of the promising players to emerge from Juventus’ development system, even though he is no longer part of the club’s current project. After a...

Read more
Next Post
Bayer Leverkusen eye summer swoop for Stefan Ortega

Bayer Leverkusen eye summer swoop for Stefan Ortega

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

NFL Mandatory Minicamps 2025: Key Dates

NFL Mandatory Minicamps 2025: Key Dates

June 9, 2025
Eagles Information: PFF says Howie Roseman received away with “freeway theft”

Eagles Information: PFF says Howie Roseman received away with “freeway theft”

May 9, 2024
Why Liverpool followers can take newest Trent to Actual Madrid rumours with pinch of salt – Liverpool FC

Why Liverpool followers can take newest Trent to Actual Madrid rumours with pinch of salt – Liverpool FC

December 28, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • LIVE! PFL 7 Results: Edwards vs. Silveira
  • The three key areas the Western Force must nail to tame the Lions
  • 76ers decline Jared Butler’s 2025-26 option
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.