Politics
MEPs blast FIFA’s Infantino over Russian athletes in youth World Cup
Forty-four members of the European Parliament have sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, urging him to reverse the decision allowing Russian youth
Key takeaways
- Russia should not be readmitted to FIFA competitions until it enters peace negotiations, ceases fire, and returns kidnapped children.
- Around 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly kidnapped and separated from their families by Putin's regime.
- FIFA bans create more hatred.
Forty-four members of the European Parliament have sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, urging him to reverse the decision allowing Russian youth athletes to compete in the inaugural U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan this October. The lawmakers argue that Russia should remain banned from FIFA competitions until it halts its invasion of Ukraine, enters peace talks, and returns kidnapped Ukrainian children. FIFA had previously banned Russia in 2022 but lifted the blanket ban for youth competitions in 2023, recently opening the U-15 tournament to all member associations.
In their words
“We urge FIFA to stand on the side of peace and not appease the aggressor - Russia”
By the numbers
- 44
- Members of the European Parliament signing the letter
- 20,000
- Ukrainian children forcibly kidnapped by the Russian regime
How it unfolded
- Court of Arbitration for Sport dismisses Russia's ban appeal
- FIFA bans Russia following the invasion of Ukraine
- FIFA lifts blanket ban for youth competitions
- Infantino says FIFA should lift its ban on Russia
- FIFA announces inaugural U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan
- U-15 World Cup scheduled to take place
Why this matters
-
Allowing Russia to participate could lead other member countries to boycott the competition.
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Common questions
- What happened with Gianni Infantino?
- Russia should not be readmitted to FIFA competitions until it enters peace negotiations, ceases fire, and returns kidnapped children.
- Where can I read the original report?
- Read the full report at politico_eu.
