Ninety members of the European Parliament have signed letters criticizing FIFA over its decision to allow Russian participation in the U-15 World Cup scheduled for October, while also raising concerns about President Gianni Infantino's relationship with U.S. leader Donald Trump.
In letters published Monday and Wednesday, MEPs pressed FIFA on actions they said undermine the world football governing body's political neutrality. Lithuanian MEP Petras Auštrevičius from the liberal Renew group authored one of the letters, calling Russia's potential participation 'completely based on moral and political blindness.'
What the Left Is Saying
Auštrevičius told Politico that allowing Russian teams to return to international competitions sends a dangerous political signal amid Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. The MEP expressed concern that national teams refusing to play against Russians would face disqualification, which he called 'completely wrong' and likely to produce unfair competition.
"This period of time is absolutely wrong to send this kind of sport-based but politics-based signal to Russia," Auštrevičius said in the interview. He added that while he feels sorry for Russian youth players, public reaction toward their country's aggression against Ukraine would be 'absolutely understandable.'
The European Parliament's criticism reflects broader concerns among progressive and internationalist lawmakers about keeping sports free from geopolitical influence.
What the Right Is Saying
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has previously defended his position on exclusionary bans. Earlier this year, Infantino stated he opposes such bans because they "create more hatred." His supporters argue that separating politics from sports protects young athletes from being penalized for their governments' actions.
Some critics of the MEPs' stance have suggested that excluding youth teams risks politicizing competitions meant to bring nations together and may undermine efforts to use athletics as a bridge-building tool between cultures.
FIFA did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the criticism from European lawmakers.
What the Numbers Show
The letters were signed by 90 MEPs out of the 705 total members of the European Parliament, representing approximately 13 percent of the legislative body. The coordinated action spans two separate letters published Monday and Wednesday, indicating sustained parliamentary attention to the issue.
Russia's national teams have faced various levels of exclusion from international sports competitions since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with FIFA implementing targeted sanctions that have evolved over time.
The Bottom Line
The European Parliament's rebuke highlights growing tensions between international political bodies and FIFA over the organization's role in geopolitical disputes. Auštrevičius expressed particular concern about Infantino's relationship with Trump, stating that FIFA 'is not any longer a neutral sports organization.' He argued that appeasement strategies with world leaders represent 'a disadvantage of FIFA rather than a strong point.'
FIFA has yet to formally respond to the MEP letters. The U-15 World Cup scheduled for October will test whether member nations comply with or resist the governing body's current stance on Russian participation.