The boss of Shakhtar Donetsk has some strong words for FIFA president Gianni Infantino. And honestly, you can understand why he's fuming.
Sergei Palkin, Shakhtar's chief executive, is calling on Infantino to visit Ukraine and see the war damage firsthand. This comes after the FIFA boss suggested Russia should be allowed back into world football. Yeah, you read that right.
Tuesday marked four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The numbers are staggering - estimates suggest up to 140,000 Ukrainians and 325,000 Russians have been killed. This isn't just background noise. It's a devastating reality that continues today.
FIFA and UEFA kicked Russian clubs and national teams out of all competitions back in February 2022. But Infantino recently said the ban "has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred." Those comments haven't gone down well in Ukraine, to put it mildly.
Ukraine's sports minister called Infantino's remarks "irresponsible" and "infantile." He pointed out that over 100 footballers are among more than 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the war. These aren't just statistics - they're real people who loved the game.
The Annex 7 Problem
Palkin's frustration with FIFA goes beyond just these comments. There's a whole saga involving something called Annex 7, which allowed foreign players in Russia and Ukraine to break their contracts after the war started. Shakhtar reckons this cost them around €60 million as about 15 players left without the club getting transfer fees.
"I suggest Infantino visits Ukraine to witness the destruction first hand rather than making this kind of irresponsible statement from a distance," Palkin told ESPN. "Reintegrating Russia while Ukraine suffers from this war, it is a betrayal of the sport's 'one family' claim."
He's got a point about priorities too. Instead of thinking about bringing Russia back, Palkin reckons Infantino should focus on creating a fund to rebuild Ukraine's destroyed sports infrastructure. The country's football scene is in critical condition, with facilities completely destroyed.
UEFA Gets Praise While FIFA Gets Slammed
Here's where it gets interesting. While Shakhtar's relationship with FIFA is clearly toxic, they're singing a very different tune about UEFA. Sporting director Dario Srna couldn't be clearer about the contrast.
"FIFA didn't do nothing for us," Srna said bluntly. "This is disrespectful. They must protect the club, the players, the football." Meanwhile, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was apparently on the phone with Srna every day during the crisis, even calling French president Emmanuel Macron to help move players safely.
"He didn't behave like the president of UEFA, he behaved like a human being," Srna added. That's high praise, especially when contrasted with their FIFA experience.
FIFA declined to comment when ESPN reached out. The whole situation puts football's governing body in an awkward spot, especially as debates about Russia's return to international competition continue. For clubs like Shakhtar still dealing with the reality of war, these aren't just political decisions - they're deeply personal ones that affect their survival.
