Ukraine’s Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi has condemned suggestions for Russia’s reinstatement in international football, cautioning that such moves would risk legitimizing Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. “The ban is an important part of international efforts to stop the aggressor,” stated Bidnyi, emphasizing that attempting to normalize Russia’s status in sports would equate to endorsing its criminal actions.
Bidnyi’s remarks follow comments from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who suggested that FIFA and UEFA should reevaluate the ban on Russian teams. Infantino claimed the ban has failed to achieve its intended goals, leading only to further resentment. Currently, the ban on Russian football, enacted in light of the military aggression that escalated in February 2022, reflects a wider pattern of restrictions imposed by multiple sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee.
Throughout the conflict, while many sports governing bodies have maintained stringent bans on Russian athletes, a few have begun to relax these restrictions. Notably, Russian tennis players have returned to major international tournaments, and athletes from other disciplines have been allowed to compete under neutral flags. The International Paralympic Committee has also announced plans to lift its ban, permitting Russian athletes to fully participate in the upcoming 2026 Winter Paralympics, and similar moves have been made by other federations.
Proponents of lifting restrictions often argue for the separation of sports and politics, claiming that the current measures disproportionately affect individual Russian athletes and fail to influence Kremlin actions. However, this perspective overlooks Russia’s historical pattern of leveraging sports for political propaganda, as seen during the Cold War and continuing through events like the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Recent showcases of Russian athletic success have been utilized to bolster national pride, often intertwined with the regime’s messaging.
The prospect of reintroducing Russian athletes into the international sporting fold is particularly distressing for Ukraine, a nation that has suffered greatly during the invasion, including the loss of countless athletes. Accepting Russia back into sports would not only seem unethical to many Ukrainians but could also send a troubling signal to the world regarding the accountability of nations engaging in aggression.
Moving forward, any decisions to ease restrictions on Russian participation in international sport need careful consideration, as they could have implications far beyond the athletic realm. Normalizing Russia’s involvement could undermine global resolve in holding aggression accountable, a concern that resonates deeply in the ongoing context of the conflict.