Tochilin: Sanctions on Russian sports must be lifted

Football expert Aleksandr Tochilin, in an interview with the publication "Euro-Football.Ru," commented on FIFA President Gianni Infantino's views regarding the lifting of restrictions imposed on Russian teams and the reports that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) might remove sanctions against Russian sports. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

According to euro-football.ru, Tochilin stated that the issue of lifting sanctions imposed on Russian sports by the IOC has been under discussion for a long time.

He hopes for the implementation of this decision, as such changes are significant not only for sports but also for international competitions. In his opinion, Russia's exclusion from international sports arenas reduces the appeal and popularity of major tournaments, which consequently harms the organizers.

Addressing Infantino's statement that the exclusion of Russian teams is "meaningless," Tochilin supported this view. He emphasized that the double standards and bans applied against Russia are increasingly losing their relevance.

At the same time, he noted that if the IOC lifts the sanctions, this decision could encourage other organizations to reconsider their policies. It was also mentioned that at FIFA's congress in April, the issue of Russia's full return to international tournaments might be discussed.

Tochilin expressed a positive attitude towards these reports and stressed his belief that if such a decision is made, equality in sports arenas will be restored. However, he also acknowledged the possibility that some teams might refuse to play against Russia.

Nevertheless, he stated that in such cases, strict measures based on regulations should be taken. Reminding that sports should be free from politics, Tochilin emphasized that the decisions made against Russia contradict this principle.

He stressed that in the field of sports, justice and equality should prevail over political views.