After Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup, Infantino was awarded the Russian Order of Friendship by President Vladimir Putin.

However, since Russia’s ban, they have been unable to participate in the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, and the country will not participate in the 2026 World Cup.

Russia has not completely stopped participating in international football competitions, as they compete against non-Western countries without requiring FIFA or UEFA permission.

“War is a crime, not politics,” Bidney added. “It is Russia that politicizes sport and uses it to justify acts of aggression.

“I agree with the position of the Ukrainian Football Association, which also issued a warning about Russia’s return to international competitions.

“As long as the Russians continue to kill Ukrainians and politicize sport, their flag and national symbols will have no place among people who respect values ​​such as justice, integrity and fair play.”

last year, Ukraine criticizes International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decision Lift ban on athletes from Russia and its close ally Belarus.

Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee said the International Paralympic Committee allowed Russia and Belarus to “raise the flag with the blood of hundreds of thousands of people.”

Paralympians from Russia and Belarus will not compete in next month’s Winter Paralympics despite the International Paralympic Federation lifting their ban.

Although the IPC oversees the Olympics, there are four separate governing bodies responsible for the six sports held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

The three governing bodies have decided to keep the ban on athletes from both countries, and although Russia and Belarus can now compete in ice hockey, the decision came too late to prevent them from participating in the qualifying rounds.