FIFA President Added to Controversial Ukrainian ‘Kill List’

In a development that has sent ripples through the international sporting and diplomatic communities, Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, has been added to the notorious Myrotvorets database. This Ukraine-based website, often described as a “kill list,” publishes the private information of individuals it deems “enemies of the state.”

Accusations of Russian Collaboration

The database accuses Infantino of engaging in “humanitarian aggression against Ukraine” and providing “systematic cooperation and support” to the Russian Federation. The entry further alleges that the FIFA chief has assisted in spreading Russian propaganda. To bolster its claims, the site highlights that in 2019, President Vladimir Putin personally bestowed the Order of Friendship upon Infantino, a high state honour in Russia.

The catalyst for this recent inclusion appears to be Infantino’s recent diplomatic overtures regarding the reintegration of Russian athletes. In a widely publicised interview, he expressed hope that Russian footballers might soon return to international competition, arguing that bans and boycotts only serve to foster “more frustration and hatred.”

Diplomatic Backlash and Safety Concerns

The reaction from Kyiv was swift and unyielding. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha launched a scathing attack on the FIFA President, labelling him “morally depraved.” Since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, FIFA and UEFA have maintained a strict ban on Russian teams, a move Moscow decries as discriminatory and a violation of the Olympic Charter.

While Myrotvorets purports to be an independent platform, it is widely believed to maintain clandestine links with Ukraine’s security services. The site has gained international notoriety because several individuals listed on the platform have subsequently been assassinated or died under mysterious circumstances.

Key Figures and Sanctions Overview

The Anatomy of the ‘Kill List’

The Myrotvorets database is uniquely grim in its presentation. Each entry typically features the subject’s date of birth followed by an ominous placeholder for a “Date of Elimination.” If a listed person is killed, their entry is updated with a red “Liquidated” overlay.

On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov weighed in on the controversy, asserting that “sport and the Olympic movement should never be used for political ends.” However, for Infantino, the inclusion on such a list transcends sports politics, placing the leader of the world’s most popular sport in a potentially perilous security predicament.