𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andriy Shevchenko, president of the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) and former footballer, is hoping to meet Gianni Infantino at UEFA’s Congress in Brussels.

This comes after the FIFA president spoke out against banning Russia and Israel from international football earlier this month. Shevchenko is hoping now to speak to Infantino to convey “information about the war in Ukraine and our position”.

In 2022, both FIFA, the world football governing body, and its European counterpart UEFA banned the Russian national team from competing after the country invaded Ukraine. But in an hour-long interview with Sky News on February 2, Infantino claimed Russia’s ban “has not achieved anything” and revealed he will be looking at removing the ban, as well as possibly changing FIFA’s statutes to prevent similar sanctions in the future.

“We have to,” Infantino responded when asked, by Yalda Hakim, host of The World on Sky News, whether he is going to explore lifting the ban.

“Definitely. Because this ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred.”

Infantino has publicly opposed bans in football for Russia and Israel (Daniel Duarte/AFP via Getty Images)

On the possibility of changing the governing body’s statutes to stop national teams being banned, Infantino went further and said they “should actually never ban any country from playing football because of the acts of their political leaders”.

“It’s a good sign,” Alexei Sorokin, the Russian FA’s representative, told reporters in Brussels, Belgium, when asked for his response to Infantino’s comments. “(At) least we took it that way.”

However, Infantino received widespread condemnation for his views, particularly from Ukraine, with the UAF releasing a statement hours later opposing the 55-year-old’s suggestion.

“We do not agree with the claim that the ban against the aggressor is ineffective,” the UAF’s statement read. “We believe that exclusion from participation in competitions is an effective method of pressure on the aggressor.

“The potential reintegration of any Russian national teams poses a threat to the safety and integrity of competitions.”

At a press conference in Ukraine on Monday, Shevchenko said: “The UAF responded immediately to Infantino’s comment. You all saw our statement. We clearly stated our position, which has not changed: while the war continues we are adamantly opposed to Russians returning to football.

“Over these days there has been communication with FIFA representatives at different levels.

“At the moment, the FIFA Council is not considering the return of Russians. I am planning a meeting with Gianni Infantino to once again convey, in concrete terms, information about the war in Ukraine and our position.

“Colleagues from different associations support us. While this support remains with us and is united, the return of Russians to competitions is not being considered.”

And now Shevchenko, who is in Brussels for the UEFA Congress on Thursday, is hoping to meet Infantino in person at the event to discuss the matter.

Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign affairs minister, described Infantino as a “moral degenerate” following his comments on Russia.

“679 Ukrainian girls and boys will never be able to play football — Russia killed them,” Sybiha posted on social media.

“And it keeps killing more while moral degenerates suggest lifting bans, despite Russia’s failure to end its war. Future generations will view this as a shame reminiscent of the 1936 Olympics.”

The UAF has opened its doors in Kyiv to help colleagues who are left without electricity or heating and has also set up a space for children to visit. Employees without electricity, heating or warm water have also been able to stay overnight, as well as being able to shower in the changing rooms.