February 13 – Ukraine’s football boss Andriy Shevchenko has urged FIFA to uphold Russia’s ban from the international game.
On the sidelines of the Uefa Congress, Shevchenko met with the leadership of FIFA and reinforced Ukraine’s position that a reintegration of Russia is not acceptable, with the war in Ukraine still raging.
In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and following the refusal of several national team captains to play the Russians, the country was banned from international football.
Shevchenko told Infantino “that is not the right time to bring back Russia” and, referencing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, that “the situation remains unchanged”.
Shevchenko and the Ukrainian FA insist that, with nothing altered since Russia’s invasion, a return remains firmly off the table. Neither Infantino nor Alexsander Ceferin mentioned Russia directly in their addresses to the UEFA Congress. Instead, they spoke of unity in football.
Since the outbreak of war, Shevchenko, once a Chelsea striker and now a football administrator, has become an outspoken champion of Ukraine’s cause. Infantino’s comments have unsettled multiple nations across Europe.
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, took 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.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1770989205labto1770989205ofdlr1770989205owedi1770989205sni@i1770989205tnuk.1770989205ardni1770989205mas1770989205
Source link
Add Comment