FIFA president opposes boycott of Israel, calls for end to four-year ban on Russia

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks out against a proposed ban on Israel from world soccer competition, and also says his organization, which governs the sport’s international play, should end its boycott of Russia as well. It instituted that ban after the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago.

In an interview with Sky News, Infantino calls the idea of boycotting Israel a “defeat.” Palestinian Football Association officials and others have called on FIFA to ban Israel due to its conduct during the war in Gaza, but FIFA repeatedly postponed voting on suspending Israel.

In October, shortly before the current ceasefire in Gaza took effect, Infantino said his organization “cannot solve geopolitical problems, but it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural, and humanitarian values.”

Speaking to Sky, Infantino says FIFA should “enshrine in our statutes that we should actually never ban any country from playing football because of the acts of their political leaders.”

Regarding the Russia ban, he says it should “definitely” end.

“Because this ban has not achieved anything. It has just created more frustration and hatred,” he says.