The Ukraine FA executive committee has decided to appeal to FIFA to ban Iran from the World Cup.
They believe Iran is supplying weapons to Russia and also breaking Article 3 and 4 of FIFA statues – which commit FIFA to respecting human rights and fighting discrimination.
Their statement reads: “Taking into account the media information about the systematic manifestations of human rights violations in Iran, which may violate the principles and norms of the FIFA Charter, taking into account the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 regarding the imposition of sanctions on Iran and the alleged involvement of Iran in the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, [we] appeal to FIFA with proposal to consider the issue of excluding the Iranian national team from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne admits next month’s World Cup could be his last.
The Belgium international will be taking his family to Qatar so his children can see him play at a World Cup for the first time.
The 31-year-old played for Belgium when they finished third in Russia four years ago and reached the quarter-finals in Brazil in 2014 but knows this is likely to be his last chance with his national team.
He said: “My family are going over for the group stages. I am obviously 31 and I don’t know what will happen in four years. This is the first time my kids can come to the World Cup.
“That is why they are coming. It will be special, an event I don’t want them to miss. They are six, four and two. The eldest two of them follow the football a bit but the daughter, not really, but she can go and enjoy the sun and play in the pool.
