FIFA president Gianni Infantino has addressed calls for a ceasefire during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The prestigious tournament will commence on Sunday 20 November and will come to an end on Sunday 18 December 2022 in Qatar.
The FIFA president has urged world leaders to come together in order to bring peace “to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”
He was speaking at the 2022 G20 Bali summit held in Indonesia, as the world football governing body launched the Football Unites the World campaign.
“Football is a force for good. We are not naive to believe that football can solve the world’s problems. We know that our main focus as a sports organisation is and should be sports,” said Infantino.
“But because football unites the world, this particular FIFA World Cup, with five billion people watching it, can be a trigger for a positive gesture, for a sign or a message of hope.
“You all know what football means to your people and to your countries, it is about passion, it is about inclusion, it is about tolerance, it is about non-discrimination, and it is about education.”
IDENTIFIED COUNTRIES INVOLVED IN THE CONFLICT
Infantino went on to reveal the countries [Russia and Ukraine] that are involved in the matter which has caused uncertainty with just five days left for the World Cup to begin.
“Russia hosted the last World Cup in 2018, and Ukraine is bidding to host the World Cup in 2030. Maybe, the current World Cup, starting in five days, can really be that positive trigger,” he added.
The FIFA president reckons that the World Cup will be “a unique platform” for unity and peace across the world.
INFANTINO’S PLEA TO THE WORLD LEADERS…
“So my plea, to all of you, is to think of a temporary ceasefire, for one month, for the duration of the FIFA World Cup, or at least the implementation of humanitarian corridors, or anything that could lead to the resumption of dialogue as the first step to peace.
“You are the world leaders; you have the ability to influence the course of history. So, let’s take this opportunity to do everything we can to start putting an end to all conflicts.
“Football unites the world, and because football unites the world, the World Cup is an occasion to bring people together in peace and joy,” he further stated.
