Brussels, 4 February (LaPresse) – "President Gianni Infantino, values are non-negotiable. Sport does not exist in a vacuum. It reflects who we are and what we choose to defend. Allowing aggressors to return to global football as if nothing had happened ignores the real security risks and the profound pain caused by war. Flags, uniforms and anthems represent states, actions and values. Normalisation is not acceptable.‘ This was how EU Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef commented on social media on FIFA President Gianni Infantino's request to lift the suspension of Russia and its clubs from international competitions. ’Public safety matters. Clarity matters. Symbols matter. Football sets the tone for global sport. Other sports, federations and EU Member States have already expressed serious concerns. These decisions should be taken through collective discussions, risk assessments and clear boundaries must be established,‘ the Commissioner emphasised. ’With Milan-Cortina 2026 just around the corner, we will celebrate the power of sport to unite. But what happens next matters just as much. We must come together, within the EU and beyond, to reaffirm the European Model of Sport: responsibility, solidarity, respect for our values. Fans, trade unions, stakeholders, I invite you to join us in setting clear boundaries for what is acceptable in sport. Not everything is negotiable."