Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the world football association FIFA to give a speech before the World Cup final between Argentina and France in Qatar.
However, Selenskyj was denied that, reported the Ukrainian Minister of Sport Wadym Hutzajt via Facebook.
Alexander Davydov
sports editor.
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"The President of Ukraine should appear at the stadium via video link before the game and deliver a message for peace in the world," Hutzajt wrote.
According to him, Zelenskyy's application was rejected on the grounds that the football field was "not a place for political actions and protests".
The world association had denied having received a request from Ukraine.
In a pre-recorded video message released by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on social media on Sunday, Zelenskyy congratulated the world community on the World Cup final: "Today we witness a common victory, the celebration of the human spirit," said Zelenskyy, recalling that tournament is a moment of joy and peace for all spectators.
At the same time, the Ukrainian President drew a parallel between the influence of football and the current situation in his war-torn homeland: "Every father wants to take his son to a football game anywhere in the world and every mother wants to see her son come back from the war ."
Accordingly, when the games ended, the stadiums remained empty, just as the cities remained empty after wars.
That is why the war must fail and the winners must be peace.
In conclusion, Zelenskyj appealed to continue to support Ukraine and its peace efforts.