FIFA has turned down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s request to deliver a message of world peace before the World Cup final on Sunday.
According to the source, Zelensky’s office offered to appear in a video link to fans in Qatar’s stadium ahead of the game and was surprised by the negative response. It’s unclear whether Zelensky’s message will be broadcast live or recorded.
“We thought FIFA wanted to use its platform for the greater good,” the source said.
However, talks between Ukraine and the sport’s governing body are still ongoing, according to the source. FIFA was contacted by CNN for comment, but did not respond immediately.
While unusual, the request is not surprising. Kyiv has repeatedly attempted to use major world events, regardless of their theme, to keep the international spotlight on Ukraine’s war.
Zelensky has made video appearances at events ranging from the Group of 20 summit to the Grammys and the Cannes Film Festival.
He’s also conducted interviews and conversations with a wide range of journalists and famous entertainers, including Sean Penn and David Letterman, using the charm and media savvy he honed as an actor before becoming a politician to rally support for Ukraine.
Criticism prior to the tournament
FIFA, on the other hand, has gone to great lengths to keep political messaging out of its flagship tournament in Qatar, the first Middle Eastern country to host the event.
In the weeks leading up to the World Cup, criticism of the wealthy Gulf state’s treatment of LGBTQ people and migrant workers grew louder.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacted angrily shortly before the tournament began, accusing Europe and the West of hypocrisy.
Later, FIFA and seven European countries clashed over the threat of sanctions for any player wearing a “OneLove” captain’s armband during games.
The accessory features a multi-coloured striped heart to represent all heritages, backgrounds, genders, and sexual identities.
Hours before England captain Harry Kane was set to wear the armband against Iran, FIFA announced that any player wearing the armbands would receive a yellow card, increasing their chances of being sent off or banned from a later game in the tournament.
Grant Wahl, the renowned American soccer journalist who died unexpectedly of a ruptured aortic aneurysm during the World Cup, revealed in November that he was detained and denied entry to a match because he was wearing a rainbow t-shirt in support of LGBTQ rights.
Infantino said at a news conference on Friday that FIFA had halted some “political statements” in Qatar because it needed to “take care of everyone.”
“We are a global organization and we don’t discriminate against anyone,” Infantino said.
“We are defending values, we are defending human rights and rights of everyone at the World Cup. Those fans and the billions watching on TV, they have their own problems.
They just want to watch 90 or 120 minutes without having to think about anything, but just enjoying a little moment of pleasure and joy. We have to give them a moment when they can forget about their problems and enjoy football.”
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