Ukraine attacks FIFA for rejecting broadcast despite Russia ban

Ukraine Saturday lashed out against the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) after the organization refused to dedicate airtime to broadcast a message from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the World Cup. 

Ukraine says the message was “an appeal for peace,” according to CNN, in which Zelenskyy called for a “World Cup, not world war,” and announced “the initiative to hold a global peace formal summit this winter. The summit to unite all nations of the world around the cause of global peace.” 

FIFA has already banned Russia from the World Cup for its war with Ukraine. 

Zelenskyy, who last week was chosen Time magazine’s “Person of the Year,” has become accustomed to being featured during widely broadcasted events. The president was granted airtime during the Grammy Awards, the Cannes Film Festival and the G27 summit, in addition to videocast meetings with celebrities. He has been treated to exclusively fawning coverage in mainstream media and landed on the cover of Vogue. The country has been showered with enough aid to make it proportionally the most expensive war since World War II. 

But the actor-turned-president was displeased with FIFA’s rejection, which the association said was “too political”. 

“There is nothing political in the president’s appeal that gives political color to the sporting event, namely, there are no subjective evaluations, political signals, and even more so no accusations,” the president's office said Saturday, adding that there is “still time for FIFA to correct their error.” 

“FIFA should not be afraid that words of peace will be heard at the global soccer celebration that represents peace,” the statement said. 

“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.  

“FIFA has lost its valuable understanding of soccer – as a game that unites peoples, rather than supporting existing divisions.” 

“No matter who wins today, @FIFAcom has already lost,” Ukraine’s official Twitter account said. 

Last week, Zelenskyy demanded 50 million lightbulbs during an international aid conference in Paris, saying they are "as necessary in Ukraine as armored vehicles and bulletproof vests." The European Union, which is considering rationing electricity to European citizens to “flatten the curve,” immediately pledged 30 million lightbulbs and 800 generators.