Boris Johnson has called on Fifa president Gianni Infantino to change his stance on Russia in the wake of the Prime Minister not attending the recent 2022 World Cup draw.
Downing Street are thought to have sent a letter to the president of the game's governing body to express Britain's "disappointment" in seeing Russian delegates in attendance for last week's Fifa congress in Doha as the World Cup edges closer, as per Politico.
Johnson explained how football's biggest showpiece event cannot used "as a platform to legitimise Russian aggression."
The letter is in reference to Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine, as Johnson expressed his "regret" at being unable to attend the draw but did not hold back on Infantino. He even suggested that those who represent the Russian Football Federation are "effectively a representative body" for the Kremlin.
"We would therefore urge you in the strongest possible terms to rethink your position on this matter, so that representatives of both the Russian Football Union, and also the Football Federation of Belarus, are unable to engage in future FIFA meetings and business," the letter said.
"There is a clear need for football to continue to present a united front in the light of Russia’s abhorrent actions in Ukraine," Johnson added. "Sport cannot be used as a platform to legitimise Russian aggression."
The Prime Minister continued to double down on his stance by writing: “As you will be aware, the UK, along with 36 other countries from across the globe, affirmed our position recently that such sports administrators representing Russian and Belarusian teams should not be invited to participate in international sport, or the activities of sports bodies and federations."
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Johnson made a point to mention the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from the recent Paralympics as a "powerful" example of countries unifying in the face of Russia's crimes.
Infantino has long enjoyed a relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin, a bond that was only made stronger following the 2018 World Cup which was held in Russia. A year later, the Fifa chief received an Order of Friendship medal from Putin as a thank you for his nation being allowed to host the tournament.
At the tail-end of February in the early stages of their invasion of Ukraine, Fifa took the step of banning Russia indefinitely from international tournaments. As a result, Russia are unable to compete at the World Cup later this year.
Earlier this week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed that Russia's appeal against the decision had been withdrawn.
