Council of Europe Leaders Demand Continued Ban on Russian Football and Human Rights Focus for Winter Olympics

Council of Europe Leaders Demand Continued Ban on Russian Football and Human Rights Focus for Winter Olympics

Regarding the upcoming Winter Olympics in Cortina, Parliamentary Assembly President Petra Bayr and Mogens Jensen argued that sporting organizations cannot remain neutral in the face of human rights violations.

RMN News Sports Desk
New Delhi | February 9, 2026

STRASBOURG, February 9, 2026 – Senior leadership within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) issued a firm dual-statement today, insisting that Russian national football remain excluded from international competition and that the Winter Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy (February 6–22, 2026), must serve as a platform for human rights rather than political propaganda.

Football: Reinstating Russia Would Damage Credibility

In a direct response to recent calls by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to readmit Russia to international football, PACE leaders Mogens Jensen and Kim Valentin warned that such a move would “damage international football’s credibility”. Russia has been suspended since February 2022 following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Jensen emphasized that the circumstances leading to the initial suspension remain unchanged, noting that the war continues to have “devastating consequences for Ukraine and its people”. Kim Valentin, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Alliance for good governance and integrity in sport, added that Russia should remain excluded until a “just and lasting peace” is established. According to the sources, any premature reinstatement would undermine the integrity of the sport and its governance.

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Olympics: “Silence is Not Neutrality”

Regarding the upcoming Winter Olympics in Cortina, Parliamentary Assembly President Petra Bayr and Mogens Jensen argued that sporting organizations cannot remain neutral in the face of human rights violations. They asserted that “neutrality must never become a pretext for silence” and that the Olympic Charter does not supersede international human rights treaties.

The leaders expressed concern that athletes’ achievements could be “instrumentalised for political propaganda” and called for stronger safeguards to protect athletes’ freedom of expression. They urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to demonstrate leadership by ensuring human rights take precedence over “political convenience”.

Upholding International Values

The Council of Europe continues to be a vocal supporter of Ukraine, emphasizing that sporting autonomy should not shield organizations from accountability. The leaders concluded that the Olympics can only truly serve as a force for peace and solidarity if they prioritize human dignity and the rule of law over political interests.