FIFA president added to Ukraine’s state-linked ‘kill list’
Gianni Infantino was accused of “humanitarian aggression” after criticizing a ban on Russian football players
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been added to the ‘kill list’ maintained by Ukraine’s state-backed Mirotvorets website, which publishes the personal data of individuals it labels as enemies of the state.
The website accuses Infantino of “humanitarian aggression against Ukraine” and “systemic support and cooperation” with Russia, as well as helping to spread Russian “propaganda.”
It also notes that in 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Infantino the Order of Friendship.
Ukrainian officials have attacked Infantino for expressing hope in a recent interview that Russian football players could again be allowed to participate in international competitions. He said such bans and boycotts create “more frustration and hatred.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga labeled the global football chief a “moral degenerate” over the remarks.
Russian athletes were barred from most global sporting events, including FIFA and UEFA competitions, following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
Moscow has denounced the bans as discriminatory and a violation of the Olympic Charter.
“Sports and the Olympic movement should never be politicized,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
Mirotvorets, which operates independently but maintains close ties to Ukraine’s security services, has been branded a “kill list” after multiple people featured on it were later murdered or died under suspicious circumstances. Each entry notably includes a “date of elimination” field beneath the subject’s birthdate.
