The addition of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s name to a controversial Ukrainian state-backed website, Myrotvorets , has sparked fresh controversy in international sports. The site, which publishes information on individuals identified as “enemies” of Ukraine and is informally known to critics as the “kill list,” has sparked fresh controversy in the world of sports.
The website’s list accuses Infantino of supporting the aggression against Ukraine, taking a pro-Russian stance, and aiding Russian propaganda. It also mentions his receiving the ‘Order of Friendship’ medal from Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2019.
In a recent interview, Infantino advocated for easing the sports ban on Russia, saying the long-term boycott was fueling political divisions rather than sports. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha reportedly called him “morally degenerate” after the comments.
FIFA and UEFA banned Russian teams and players from international competitions after the Russia-Ukraine war began. Russia has called the decisions discriminatory. The Kremlin has said that sports should be kept out of political disputes.
Although Mirotovorets claims to be an independent platform, human rights groups have warned that some of the individuals on the list have subsequently been attacked or have been subject to suspicious deaths, raising serious concerns about the site’s security and ethics.