For this reason, Ukraine submits a request to exclude Iran from the World Cup

Twenty days before kick-off, the Ukrainian Football Association demanded that Iran be removed from the 2022 World Cup.

The Ukrainian Football Association submitted a request to the International Federation of the Game (FIFA), to expel Iran from the World Cup, because of its financing of the Russian army with weapons during its war with Ukraine.

And the Ukrainian Federation published a statement on Monday, which said: “Taking into account the systematic manifestations of human rights violations in Iran that violate the FIFA covenants, and taking into account UN Security Council Resolution No. 22.31 on imposing sanctions against Iran, and Iranian involvement in the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, We appeal to FIFA with a proposal to consider excluding the Iranian national team from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”

The call comes just days after Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergey Balkin called for Iranian to be ousted and replaced by Ukraine in this year’s tournament.

And the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was bombed by Iranian-made “Kamikaze” drones used by the Russian army earlier this month.

President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that seven such drones had been shot down, while the US said Iran had deployed military experts in Russia-ruled Crimea.

“While the Iranian leadership will enjoy watching their national team at the World Cup, the Ukrainians will be killed by Iranian drones and Iranian missiles,” Balkin commented on last week’s drone attacks.

Iran is participating in Group B of the World Cup, along with England, the United States and Wales, and will play its first match against England in 21 days.