FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been described as “childish” for wanting to lift the ban on Russia

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

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

Russia has not completely stopped playing international football, playing matches against non-Western countries without needing permission from FIFA or UEFA.

Bednyi added: “War is a crime, not a policy.” He added: “Russia is the one that politicizes sports and uses it to justify aggression.

“I share the position of the Ukrainian Football Federation, which also warns against Russia’s return to international competitions.

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

Last year, Ukraine criticized the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to lift the ban on athletes from Russia and its close ally Belarus.

The Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee said the International Paralympic Committee had allowed Russia and Belarus to “raise their flags stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of people.”

Despite the International Paralympic Committee lifting its ban, Russian and Belarusian Paralympic athletes will not participate in next month’s Winter Paralympic Games.

Although the International Paralympic Committee oversees the Games, there are four separate governing bodies responsible for the six sports held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Three of the governing bodies decided to maintain the ban on athletes from the two countries, and although Russia and Belarus are now allowed to compete in ice hockey, the decision came too late for them to participate in the qualifiers.