FIFA president Gianni Infantino called out over lack of Ukraine support: 'I don't have respect for him'

Shakhtar director Srna criticised FIFA president Infantino for failing to support Ukrainian clubs during the war and allowing Russia to compete in the Under-15 World Cup.

Darijo Srna, Shakhtar's director, has launched a scathing attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the governing body's handling of Ukraine during the ongoing war. Speaking ahead of Shakhtar's Champions League match against Sporting at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Srna expressed frustration that FIFA allowed Russia to send a team to the inaugural Under-15 World Cup & Festival in Azerbaijan last month, despite Russian teams being banned from FIFA and UEFA competitions since the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Srna contrasted Infantino unfavourably with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, saying: "FIFA is business. If you compare President Ceferin with Infantino, they are two different people. The one who likes football is Mr Ceferin." He accused FIFA of failing in its duty to protect clubs and players, stating: "Unfortunately, they didn't protect one club from Ukraine during the war. What is their duty? They are there to protect football, to protect the clubs, to protect the players. But they didn't do anything."

Srna remains confident that Russian clubs will not return to European competition while Ceferin leads UEFA, calling the prospect of Russian teams playing in England, Germany, Poland, Spain or Italy "impossible".