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Ukraine FA calls for FIFA to ban Iran from Qatar World Cup

31 Oct 2022 2 minute read
Participants take part in a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London over the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini. Photo Aaron Chown PA Images
The UAF’s executive committee says it has made a request to global governing body FIFA to kick Iran out of the tournament, which starts on November 20, over what it describes as the country’s “systematic human rights violations” and “the possible involvement of Iran in the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine”.

Iran are in the same World Cup group as Wales and are due to kick off their World Cup campaign against England on November 21.

Anti-government protests have engulfed the Middle East country since the death in custody of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, on September 16.

Amini had been arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s rules requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab, or headscarf.

Sports personalities

A group of Iranian sports personalities had already called on FIFA to ban the country from the tournament on the basis that the failure to allow women to attend matches in the country constituted a breach of FIFA’s own articles.

Now Ukraine has added further political pressure, citing the Iranian government’s treatment of its own people and its belief that the regime in Tehran is supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A statement on the UAF’s official website read: “Taking into account media information about systematic human rights violations in Iran, which may violate the principles and norms of the FIFA Statutes, taking into account the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 regarding the imposition of sanctions on Iran and the possible involvement of Iran in the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine, (the executive committee of the Ukrainian football federation has decided) to make a request to the FIFA to consider excluding the Iranian national team from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”

FIFA has been approached for comment.


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Dai Rob
Dai Rob
1 year ago

On that basis, Qatar should be banned also….lol

Owain Morgan
Owain Morgan
1 year ago
Reply to  Dai Rob

You can change a participant at short notice e.g. Yugoslavia were banned from Euro 92, due to the civil war there, and Denmark the runners up in that qualifying group were told they were going with two weeks notice. FTR Denmark went on to win the tournament.

Crwtyddol
Crwtyddol
1 year ago

It’s an interesting suggestion.
Have Russia quified ? Forgive my ignorance

Jack
Jack
1 year ago
Reply to  Crwtyddol

They were in the qualifying play offs but we’re disqualified as Poland, Sweden & the Czech Republic refused to play them (the other teams in their play off)

Y Tywysog Lloegr a Moscow
Y Tywysog Lloegr a Moscow
1 year ago
Reply to  Jack

Could our group do that to get England knocked out of the group stages? I’m only joking of course. We’ll just do it the proper way.

Y Tywysog Lloegr a Moscow
Y Tywysog Lloegr a Moscow
1 year ago

This is FIFA. Money talks. Bribe them enough and they’ll even give the World Cup to a disgusting oppressive authoritarian genocidal Kleptocracy or Theocracy like Russia or Qatar.

Last edited 1 year ago by Y Tywysog Lloegr a Moscow

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