Zelenskyy about FIFA's refusal to broadcast his appeal

He told this at the evening address.

"When people are united by football, people are united by peace. Therefore, for today, I have prepared a special appeal from Ukraine to the whole world. To all who value peace and life. Although FIFA blocked this appeal from being shown at the stadium before the final game in Qatar, the world still heard our call," Zelenskyy emphasized.

Zelenskyy added that his appeal was shared by Ukrainian football players, including Yarmolenko and the entire Ukrainian national team, as well as Shovkovskyy, Modric, Srna, Guardiola, Rats and many others.

"I thank everyone! Partner countries have supported. Thousands of world media have been distributed. We are already preparing a special summit this winter. A summit for the sake of peace. For our country and for any other nation that may experience the same aggression, the same terror that Russia brought to our land," he said.

According to the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, FIFA's reluctance to broadcast the speech of Volodymyr Zelenskyy demonstrated to the world cowardice of the organization's leadership.

"We will destroy the wall on which is written 'Sports beyond politics'. FIFA's refusal to show the call of the President of Ukraine to the world before the final of the World Cup has once again demonstrated the hypocrisy of the name 'Sports beyond politics'. But we will destroy this Carthage," Kuleba stressed.

• On December 16, it became known that FIFA refused Zelenskyy's request to share a message of peace before the World Cup final. Ukrainian President's Office stated that FIFA lost its understanding of football due to the ban on publishing Volodymyr Zelenskyy's appeal for peace before the World Cup final.