The Ukrainian Football Federation (UAF) has called for Iran to be excluded from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Due to the country’s “chronic human rights breaches.” The UAF intends to petition Fifa, the international governing body of soccer. It is to prevent Iran from participating in the tournament.
Qatar World Cup 2022: Ukraine FA demands Fifa to ban Iran
The organization fears that the country’s crackdown on protestors “may breach Fifa’s values and practices.” Russia’s military attack against Ukraine is also linked to “the likely involvement of Iran,” according to the UAF. During a meeting on Monday, the UAF’s executive committee unanimously voted to “submit a proposal to Fifa to consider removing the Iranian national team” from the upcoming World Cup. It kicks off on Sunday, November 20.
Open Stadiums, an Iranian human rights NGO, and prominent figures in Iranian football have all asked Fifa to expel the national team from international competition this month. After the murder of a lady in police custody for allegedly wearing her hijab “improperly,” protests broke out across Iran, with 284 people, including 45 children, reportedly killed by security forces. BBC Sport has reached out to Fifa for a response.
