ALBAWABA - In a post on its official Twitter account, Ukraine slammed the International Football Federation FIFA for its purported refusal to broadcast Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's message of peace at the final game.
Ukraine's Sunday's tweet came hours before the final game which saw Argentina defeats France (4) 3-3 (2) in the World Cup final in Doha, Qatar. "No matter who wins today, @FIFAcom has already lost," the tweet read.
no matter who wins today, @FIFAcom has already lost
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) December 18, 2022
FIFA had rebuffed a request by Ukraine to address a message of peace ahead of the FIFA World Cup final match between Argentina and France, CNN reported.
According to sources, it was unclear if Zelenskyy's peace message to the world was previously tapped, or if he wanted to make a live appearance.
Zelensky reportedly snubbed by FIFA after offering to share peace message at World Cup finalhttps://t.co/FuBgabPUhe
— The Week (@TheWeek) December 16, 2022
Ukraine’s presidential office slammed FIFA for rejecting to screen a video message from Zelenskyy in Qatar’s Lusail Stadium ahead of the final game. In a statement, the office wrote: "Qatar supported the President’s initiative, but FIFA blocked the initiative and will not allow the video address of the president to be shown before the final game,” the statement said."
FIFA 'REJECTS President Zelensky's request to let him share a video message of global peace before World Cup final'
— Vic DeGrammont (@votedegrammont) December 18, 2022
Good! FIFA won't let him spread his propaganda. https://t.co/SZi99zjPJo
A huge debate was launched on social media, where people discussed how World Cup shouldn't be politicalized. A Twitter user said: "Good! FIFA doing something right for a change." Another commented: "Why on Earth should he be given this opportunity to politicize a mere sport event? Very perverted logic."
From the Group of 20 summit to the Grammys and the Cannes Film Festival, the Zelenskyy addressed peace messages via international events and made statements highlighting crises that hit Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24.
Last February, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 'special military operation' in Kyiv and recognized Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.
