UEFA Issue Update On Russia Ban After Gianni Infantino Comments

An update on UEFA's stance on Russia's ban from competing in international fixtures has been given after FIFA president Gianni Infantino appeared to advocate reversing the suspension.

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia have remained banned from international football since February of that year.

The decision prevented them from competing at the World Cup in Qatar, the Euros two years later and subsequently qualifying for the upcoming showpiece in North America in the summer.

The Russia national team have still participated in unofficial friendly fixtures, most recently playing against Peru and Chile in the November international break.

Earlier this month, FIFA chief Infantino was asked about Russia's ban and the possibility of Israel also being hit with the same sanction amid the conflict with Palestine.

The 55-year-old revealed he was in favour of lifting the ban, telling Sky News: "We have to. Definitely. Because this ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred."

Infantino added that, "having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help" and suggested a change in rules as he said FIFA ought to "enshrine in our statutes that we should actually never ban any country from playing football because of the acts of their political leaders".

The comments were slammed by political figures in Ukraine and on Thursday, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin weighed in.

Ceferin and Infantino were on stage at the Congress. Image: Getty

Though Ceferin posed for photos with Infantino on stage at the UEFA Congress in Brussels, he confirmed that UEFA had not changed their decision but did not rule out it changing in the future as time goes on.

"UEFA's position is clear and has not changed but we are looking into everything every day," Ceferin said, as per beIN Sports.

"The world is changing so fast that it is even hard to follow. Let's see what the future brings."

In the Olympics, Russian athletes are banned from representing their country but can compete as a neutral athlete - as long as they prove they have no connection to the war.

They do not carry the Russian flag or have the nation's anthem play in the event that they collect a medal at the event.

In a new development, the International Olympic Committee has said that Russian teams be allowed to compete at youth level - with president Kirsty Coventry stating that “sport must remain neutral" and athletes not be punished for the country's political moves.

An individual neutral athlete competes at the Winter Olympics. Image: Getty

In September, Ceferin said he is "not a supporter of banning the athletes" as he asked "what can an athlete do to their government to stop the war?" and pointed out that the ban did not result in the war ending.