The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, said on Sunday that the World Cup in Qatar 2022 “proved more than once that the differences between peoples and countries must be resolved”. play fair and not with fire”in a message of peace that FIFA refused to broadcast before the final of the tournament between Argentina and France.
“Disputes are resolved on a green playing field and not on a blood red battlefield; this is the dream that many of us have”, argued the Ukrainian leader in his message, collected on the Ukrinform portal.
“When players compete, we all have peace,” he added in his statement.
FIFA sources said world football’s governing body refused to back up the message, stating so violated the institution’s principle of sporting neutrality.
In turn, government spokesmen in Kiev said President Zelensky’s office had offered to appear via video link to fans at the Qatar stadium, before the final of the match which was played between the Argentines and the French and that he was surprised by the negative response.
In his speech, the Ukrainian president asked for support to restore peace in his country and, addressing the fans, launched a “Let’s see the Cup final together. And let’s see the end of the war together”.
Zelensky acombined his message with images of football matches pto present the so-called “Global Peace Formula Summit”, a meeting which, he said, “aims to unite all the nations of the world around the cause of global peace”.
“We have offered a formula for achieving peace because there are no winners or champions in a war, and there are no draws either,” said the Ukrainian head of state ten months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It is not the first time that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has entered the World Cup which ended in Qatar.
On November 15, FIFA President Gianni Infantino called for a ceasefire during the month of the ecumenical championship, during a speech to the G20 leaders’ summit on the Indonesian island of Bali.
“My request to all of you is to reflect a temporary ceasefire for one month, during the World Cup, or at least the creation of humanitarian corridors or anything that leads to the resumption of dialogue as a first step for peace,” Infantino told Nusa Dua leaders.
“You are the world leaders, you can influence the course of history. Football and the World Cup offer you and the world a unique platform for unity and peace around the world,” she added.
Due to the invasion of Ukraine, FIFA suspended Russia last March, thus preventing them from participating in the tournament which has been played in Qatar since November 20, while the Ukrainian team has not qualified.
In early October, the name of Ukraine and the war came to the fore again when Zelenski thanked the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and the Portuguese Prime Minister, Antònio Costa on October 5 for both countries’ support. for hosting Ukraine in a joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Ukraine’s petition to FIFA, while unorthodox, is not surprising. The Kiev government, and its president Zelensky in particular, have already repeatedly tried to use major world events, regardless of their theme, keep the world’s attention on the war that broke out in Ukraine.
Zelensky has appeared on video at all kinds of events, from the Group of 20 summit to the Grammy Awards ceremony and the Cannes Film Festival.
Source: EFE and AFP agencies
Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.