The Ukrainian Football Association will appeal to FIFA in a bid to get Iran thrown out of the Qatar World Cup. A statement from Ukraine’s FA on Monday confirmed its executive committee want Iran to be excluded from the tournament for “possible involvement of Iran in the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine”.
Ukraine was invaded by Russia in February. The country’s football team reached the final stage of UEFA’s qualification play-offs but were beaten by Wales in June. FIFA and UEFA subsequently banned Russia from playing international football.
The chief executive of Ukrainian Premier League side Shakhtar Donetsk, Sergei Palkin, last week urged FIFA to prevent Iran from competing in Qatar, suggesting Ukraine replace them. A statement on the Ukrainian FA’s website referenced the fact the executive committee had decided to appeal to the world governing body, but did not mention the possibility of replacing them at the tournament.
The statement outlined that the executive had made the decision: “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, to make a request to the FIFA to consider excluding the Iranian national team from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
Iran’s opening game of the World Cup is scheduled to take place on November 21 against England. Meanwhile, the Bosnia and Herzegovina FA has confirmed the proposed friendly with Russia on November 19 has been postponed, though the intention remains for it to be played “at a future date”.
A statement read: “The friendly match between the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia, which was supposed to be played on November 19 in Saint Petersburg, will not be played at that time. At today’s session of the Executive Board of the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the match planned for November 19 was postponed. President of NS/FS BiH, Mr. Vico Zeljkovic stated that the playing of this friendly match will be extended for some future date.”
Source: besoccer.com
