FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to engage in dialogue and stop the war in Ukraine.
Infantino, who received an Order of Friendship medal from Putin in 2019, a year after Russia hosted the World Cup, was speaking at the FIFA Congress in Doha where delegates from the Russian Football Union were controversially present. The Russian men's football team had been due to take part in the play-offs for a spot at the 2022 World Cup, but have been banned from international competition pending appeal, amid the country's war in Ukraine.
Russian club sides have also been banned from UEFA competition, with Spartak Moscow's Europa League run ending. The Russian Football Union is said to be considering leaving UEFA, with Asia's AFC confederation a potential alternative.
“Now that we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel (on the Covid-19 pandemic), what happens now?" Infantino said in his speech to Congress. "War. War with the fear of a global conflict.
“Innocent people are suffering and dying. We live in an aggressive world, we live in a divided world. But as you know I am a big believer in the power of football to bring people together and to cross cultural boundaries.
“Nelson Mandela said sport has the power to change the world. Football is the world’s sport, but at the same time we are not that naive to believe that football can solve all the problems, of course not.”
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Russia's absence from the World Cup play-offs saw Poland claim the one spot from their section. Czeslaw Michniewicz's side received a bye in their semi-final after being drawn against Russia, before going on to eliminate Sweden and book their place in Qatar.
Despite the ban, Russia have made efforts to enter the running to host Euro 2028. A joint bid from the UK and Ireland had looked likely to be the only entrant before the announcement, while further bids - one from Turkey, and one joint bid from Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia - are also in contention.
Infantino's comments come after a number of footballers, some Russian and some not, have spoken out about their country's actions in Ukraine. Ukrainian internationals Oleksandr Zinchenko and Andriy Yarmolenko were part of a heartfelt appeal in early March, calling for a stop to the war.
Russian goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk has also spoken out, adding his voice to those calling for peace. "It would be possible to find an excuse: 'Sport is out of politics' - and focus on training. But this is just an attempt to deceive yourself," the 31-year-old, who plays his club football for Zenit St Petersburg, said.
