MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Moscow welcomes FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s recent remarks regarding the potential lifting of the ban on Russian football teams participating in international competitions, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
"The fact that there are, at the very least, debates underway on this issue is, of course, a positive development. Yes, we have seen these statements, and we warmly welcome them. It's about time to think about it," Peskov said at a news briefing in response to a question from TASS about the Kremlin’s reaction to Infantino’s comments.
"In reality, there has never been any justification to politicize sports, including football, which embodies the principles of Olympism," he continued.
Peskov emphasized that Russian football players and the national team "must be fully restored in their rights and given the opportunity to participate in FIFA-sanctioned international competitions."
"That's our position, and it has been from the very beginning. We hope that FIFA will eventually hold discussions on this matter," he added.
