FIFA President expressed hope for Russia's speedy return to world football

The International Football Federation (FIFA) hopes for Russia's return soon. This was announced on Thursday, April 3, by the president of the organization, Gianni Infantino.

"We need to use every opportunity for people to talk to each other and unite. Both sport and football in particular can become a means," he said at the Congress of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in Belgrade.

Infantino expressed hope that in the light of contacts around the Ukrainian conflict, Russia will be able to return to international football tournaments.

He also stressed that the essence of football is not to separate, but to unite people wherever they are.

"The stage of return may be playing on neutral fields, but we want to play matches at home."

RFU Secretary General Maxim Mitrofanov — on dialogue with FIFA and UEFA

On March 26, the Independent reported that UEFA has launched the process of returning Russian national teams and clubs to international tournaments. In addition, there are high-ranking football figures who would return Russian teams "tomorrow." Some believe that Russia should not have been suspended at all, the article says.