UKRAINE have appealed for Fifa to ban Iran from the World Cup for allegedly supplying weapons to Russia.
Iran are scheduled to be in Group B with England, Wales and United States – with their first match against the Three Lions three weeks today.
However, Sky Sports state the executive committee of the Ukrainian FA want to see the country booted out of the tournament before a ball is kicked – and have sent a formal request to Fifa.
The war-ravaged nation has already accused Iran of supplying drones to Russia to aid their illegal invasion of Ukraine.
And now the national association are joining with Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin in demanding Iran’s elimination.
There are also growing calls for Fifa to banish Iran from Qatar 2022 due to their oppressive regime and human rights record – which the Ukrainian FA state is a violation of Articles 3 and 4 of Fifa’s laws.
Ukraine lost to Wales in their qualifying play-off for a place at the tournament.
Former Iran captain Ali Karimi was the target of an attempted kidnapping in the UAE.
The 127-cap hero went public with comments following the shocking arrest and death in custody three days later of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September for wearing her hijab incorrectly.
As reported by The Times, that resulted in an arrest warrant, accusing Karimi of âcollusion with the intention of acting against national securityâ.
Mehdi Rostampour has detailed how an elaborate social media plan to capture the former Bayern Munich playmaker was devised.
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