February 12 – Ukrainian Football Association President Andriy Shevchenko is seeking a meeting with Gianni Infantino after the FIFA President’s recent push to reintegrate Russia into the international game.
On the sidelines of the Thursday’s UEFA Congress in the Belgian capital Brussels, Shevchenko expressed his desire for a face-to-face meeting with Infantino after the FIFA boss called for Russian’s return to football in an interview with Sky News.
The Ukrainian FA had immediately issued a strong rebuke of Infantino’s words. It has consistently held the line that nothing has changed since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and that a current return is out of the question.
In war time, Shevchenko, a former Chelsea player turned official, has become a strong advocate for his Ukraine. Infantino’s words have also caused alarm in some European quarters.
Shevchenko previously said: “We clearly expressed our position, which remains unchanged: while the war continues, we are categorically against the return of Russians to football. During these days there has been communication with representatives of FIFA at various levels. The FIFA Council is not currently considering the issue of Russians’ return.”
In Brussels, the Russians, represented by 2018 World Cup boss Alexey Sorokin and Russian Football Association General Secretary Maxim Mitrofanov, have taken encouragement from Infantino’s words. “It’s a good sign – at least we took it that way,” said Sorokin, who advises Russian FA president Alexander Dyukov.
Sorokin also referred to warmer relations with the IOC.
The day after the FIFA President said he wanted Russia to be reinstated in international football, new IOC President Kirsty Coventry used her opening speech at the 145th IOC Congress in Milan to argue that all athletes should be allowed to compete in sports, regardless of how their government acts.
The Russians said they have had no direct communication with FIFA since last week.
UEFA’s position has been that Russia can only be allowed to return if the war in Ukraine ends. At last year’s Congress in Belgrade, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said: “On the reintegration of the Russian teams – I have said it several times and I can repeat it, even if you will continue to have your doubts.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at [email protected]