Ukrainian FA demand FIFA to ban Iran from playing in World Cup

Ukraine have accused Iran of supplying Russia with weapons

The Ukrainian Football Association have called for FIFA to ban Iran from the World Cup in Qatar. Iran have been accused of supplying weapons to Russia to aid their ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which breaks articles three and four of FIFA's statutes on human rights and fighting discrimination. A statement, which was released by the executive committee Ukrainian FA on Monday, said: "Taking into account the media information about the systematic manifestations of human rights violations in Iran which could violate the principles and norms of the FIFA charter. "Taking into account the UN security council resolution 22.31 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 a proposal to consider of excluding the Iranian national team from the 2022 FIFA World Cup." Their latest appeal comes days after Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin also called for Iran to be banished from the World Cup and replaced with Ukraine. Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv, was struck by Iranian-made 'kamikaze' drones deployed by the Russian military earlier this month. Palkin tweeted his response to the drone attacks last week, saying: "While the Iranian leadership will have fun watching their national team play at the World Cup, Ukrainians will be killed by Iranian drones and Iranian missiles. "Shakhtar Football Club calls on FIFA and the entire international community to immediately ban Iran's national team from playing at the World Cup for the country's direct participation in terrorist attacks on Ukrainians. "This will be a fair decision that should draw the attention of the whole world to a regime that kills its best people and helps kill Ukrainians. "The vacant place should be taken by the national team of Ukraine, which proved that it is worthy of participation in the Mundial. "Facilitating the participation of terrorists in the World Cup is politics. It's time to put an end to such a policy." Related links:

• Sergei Palkin calls for Ukraine to replace Iran in the World Cup
• Iranian climber who competed without hijab appears on state TV following concerns she had gone missing
• Rights group call on FIFA to expel Iran from the World Cup