"Hope the situation will be resolved by then": Statement by FIFA boss Infantino leaves speechless

Created: 02/25/2022, 10:10 am

By: Alexander Kaindl

FIFA boss since 2016: Gianni Infantino.

© Luis Acosta / AFP

The world looks to Ukraine.

After the Russian invasion, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has now also spoken out - with a very unfortunate statement.

Kiev - Ukraine lies in ruins.

After the Russian invasion, fear reigns in Eastern Europe.

How far will Vladimir Putin go?

What can you do against him?

How are the NATO powers acting?

The world is currently holding its breath, almost every minute there are new horror reports about the Ukraine conflict.

There is talk of sanctions all over the world.

Of course, there is debate as to whether these are sufficient and prevent Putin from allowing the situation to escalate any further.

Current developments show that the situation is incredibly dynamic. Putin launched his “military operation” in eastern Ukraine on Thursday night.

24 hours later his army is already at the gates of the capital Kiev.

Ukraine conflict: Impact on playoffs for World Cup 2022

So what's next?

Only the Russian president himself knows that at the moment. In many European cities, there were already demonstrations against the invasion after the first day of the war.

And in sport, too, the first signs are set.

UEFA decided on Friday not to hold the Champions League final in Saint Petersburg as planned.

Instead, the final of the most important continental football competition is to be played elsewhere.

There are also clear reactions to the Ukraine conflict in Formula 1 and in the Bundesliga.

Gianni Infantino, President of the world football association FIFA, is holding back with drastic measures - and is once again causing bewilderment.

Why is?

At the end of March there will be a playoff round for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - because of which Infantino is also heavily criticized.

Among other things, Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden are playing one last ticket for the World Cup.

The associations already took a clear position on Thursday: Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden are refusing to compete in Russia.

"Due to the alarming situation (...) the games should not be played on Russian soil," it said in a joint letter.

Because of the "military escalation", the safety of the teams and the officials is not guaranteed.

World Cup 2022: fixtures of the playoff games

• March 24: Russia - Poland (in Moscow);

  Sweden - Czech Republic

• March 29: Winners Russia/Poland vs. winners Sweden/Czech Republic - home advantage to winner Russia-Poland

Ukraine conflict: FIFA President Gianni Infantino makes another misstep

And Infantino?

On February 24, he said about the duels on March 24 (Poland vs. Russia in Moscow) and March 29: "I hope that this situation will be resolved by then."

So end of war in a month?

Football on Putin's doorstep in Moscow possible again very quickly?

No danger for athletes who want to go to a World Cup because of which thousands of people have died?

The latest statement is one of the fabulous missteps that the native Swiss has allowed himself in the recent past.

He stressed several times that FIFA condemned any form of violence and that he was shocked by the war in Ukraine.

Ultimately, however, his "situation resolved" statement remains - and the lack of courage to sanction Russia on a sporting level.

The 51-year-old continued: “We are in contact with the associations involved.

The situation is constantly changing, we have to continue to monitor it.” However, there has not yet been a concrete decision.