‘Moral and political blindness’: EU lawmaker savages FIFA over Russia

This week, members of the European Parliament issued two sharp rebukes of FIFA over its decision to allow Russians to participate in the U-15 World Cup in October and President Gianni Infantino's relationship with U.S. leader Donald Trump.

In letters published Monday and Wednesday, 90 MEPs pressed FIFA over actions they said undermine the world football governing body’s political neutrality.

POLITICO sat down with the author of Wednesday's letter, Lithuanian MEP Petras Auštrevičius from the liberal Renew group, to discuss how the European Parliament is taking a stand against FIFA.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Auštrevičius’ criticism.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Tell us why you wrote that letter condemning FIFA for allowing Russia to return to the U-15 World Cup.

The letter came as a reaction to FIFA's decision to open up the gates for the Russian U-15 team for the World Cup in October. To my mind, it's completely based on moral and political blindness. This period of time is absolutely wrong to send this kind of sport-based but politics-based signal to Russia. Imagine some national teams refusing to play against Russians will face disqualification, which is completely wrong and it will lead to unfair sport competitions. It's not the first time FIFA disappoints sport supporters and the wider public in this regard.

Infantino said earlier this year that he opposes these kinds of bans, like the one that's been in place for Russia, because they "create more hatred." How do you respond?

I can imagine the Russian U-15 team is on the field, and there will be a lot of sports viewers and participants in that stadium. I don't reject [the possibility of them protesting against] Russian players. I'm sorry for the Russian U-15 national team, but that's absolutely understandable for me, the public reaction toward their country's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Is the relationship between Infantino and Trump a cause for concern? 

It's a demonstration of political affiliations. FIFA is not any longer a neutral sports organization, I am sorry to say. As long as they play those appeasing games with high politicians around the world, it's simply a disadvantage of FIFA rather than a strong point. We have to be concerned if that sport becomes rather political.

Lithuania is not in the World Cup, so who are you supporting?

Well, I've been supporting [the] Europeans. I've been a strong supporter of Germany — whew, disappointed. Disappointed.

But now I keep an eye on Spain.