Ukraine's Sports Minister backs Italy's Pirlo decision and calls for continued Russian isolation in sport
Ukrainian Youth and Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi publicly endorsed the Italian Football Federation's move to withdraw Andrea Pirlo as the national team coach, citing the former midfielder's sponsorship deal with a Russian betting company as a direct financial link to the war. "Any commercial relationship with Russian firms, including betting houses, directly or indirectly funds the war against Ukraine," Bidnyi said, adding that the decision sets a strong ethical precedent for other European bodies.
Bidnyi used the Pirlo episode to reinforce Ukraine's broader campaign to keep Russia excluded from international sport. He warned that allowing Russian entities back into elite competitions would give the Kremlin a propaganda platform and undermine the collective pressure that has been built through sanctions.
The minister expressed deep disappointment with the International Olympic Committee's recent proposal to ease restrictions on Russian participation. "The IOC's decision to lift sanctions is a huge injustice to the hundreds of Ukrainian athletes killed by Russian forces and to our entire sporting community," he declared, accusing the IOC of acting as a "valve of release" that weakens the global response to aggression.
To counter such moves, Ukraine has submitted 30 formal appeals to international federations, coordinated a new sanctions package targeting Russian sports officials—including the Russian sports minister and the head of the International Chess Federation—and pushed for a European visa ban on athletes linked to the war. "These actions send a clear signal that Europe recognises and condemns Russian war crimes," Bidnyi explained.
The minister painted a grim picture of the war's impact on Ukrainian sport: 760 athletes and coaches have been killed, more than 915 sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed, and daily air‑raid sirens force training sessions to be interrupted or moved to shelters. "Even basic sleep is compromised by the constant threat of missiles and drones," he noted.
Despite the devastation, Bidnyi highlighted the resilience of Ukrainian stars competing abroad, naming Oleksandr Usyk, Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk as vital ambassadors who keep the country's story alive on the global stage. "Their success continues the proud Ukrainian sporting tradition and draws attention to what is happening at home," he said.
Bidnyi praised the unwavering support from European partners and the United States, stressing that solidarity is essential to prevent Russia from regaining a foothold in elite sport. "Reintegrating Moscow into the international sporting community would allow the regime to claim normalcy and strength, which we cannot permit," he warned.
Concluding his remarks, the minister argued that sport cannot remain neutral while war crimes are committed. "Excluding Russian teams is not about punishing individual athletes; it is about denying the aggressor a stage to legitimise its illegal actions," Bidnyi asserted, urging all sporting bodies to maintain the ban until Russia ends its aggression.