FIFA rejects Zelensky’s request for peace message at World Cup final

DUBAI: FIFA has reportedly rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request to deliver a peace message ahead of the World Cup final in Qatar on Sunday. Zelensky’s office was said to have offered for him to appear in a video link to fans in the stadium ahead of the match, but was surprised by the negative response, a source told CNN. No clarifications were made as to whether Zelensky’s message would be live or taped.

“We thought FIFA wanted to use its platform for the greater good,” a CNN exclusive said. Talks between Ukraine and the football governing body are still underway, added the source. It is understood that no immediate response could be obtained from FIFA despite being asked to a comment.

Ukraine has repeatedly tried to use major world events, regardless of their theme, to keep the global spotlight on the invasion launched by Russia earlier this year. Zelensky has appeared via video at everything from the G20 Summit to the Grammys and the Cannes Film Festival. He has also done interviews with a wide array of journalists and famous faces, including Sean Penn and David Letterman, employing the charm and media savvy he developed in the entertainment industry — he was an actor before becoming a politician — to rally international support for Kyiv.

Meanwhile, FIFA has gone to extreme lengths to keep political messaging out of the Qatar World Cup, the first ever to be hosted by a Middle Eastern nation. Addressing a news conference on Friday, FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said the sport’s governing body had stopped some “political statements” in Qatar because it has to “take care” of everyone. “We are a global organization and we don’t discriminate against anyone,” he said.