KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTING —- Gianni Infantino’s plea for a worldwide World Cup truce and ceasefire fell on deaf ears in one of world football federation’s members.

Barely had the words left the FIFA president’s mouth at the G20 summit of world leaders in Indonesia than a cascade of Russia missiles rained down on Ukraine and another missile struck Poland. Two people were killed.

Initial Polish reports suggested the missile was of Russian manufacture but later NATO raised the possibility that it was fired in a defensive action from Ukraine. Russian denial involvement.

“We know that our main focus as a sports organisation is and should be sports, 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.” 

Infantino, days away from kick off to the most controversial of modern World Cups in Qatar, said: “Football is a force for good. We are not naïve to believe that football can solve the world’s problems.

The tenor of Infantino’s comments reiterated his plea to the 32 competing national teams to steer clear of the issues such as workers conditions, human rights and LGBTQ+ status.

Optimistically – to say the least – he continued: “Russia hosted the last World Cup in 2018, and Ukraine is bidding to host the World Cup [with Spain and Portugal] in 2030.

‘Positive trigger’

“Maybe, the current World Cup, starting in five days, can really be that positive trigger. So my plea, to all of you, is to think on 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 a first step to peace.

“You are the world leaders; you have the ability to influence the course of history.

“Football and the FIFA World Cup are offering you and the world a unique platform of unity and peace all over the world. So let’s take this opportunity to do everything we can to start putting an end to all conflicts.” 

FIFA campaign

Earlier FIFA launched a ‘Football Unites the World’ campaign featuring various international stars.

Infantino said: “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.

“Football is an investment in our children, for our future. Football unites the world, and because football unites the world, the World Cup is an occasion to bring people together in peace and joy, something deeply needed in the turbulent times we live in.” 

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