The president of the body that regulates world football made the appeal during a lunch for G20 leaders gathered on the Indonesian island of Bali.
The president of the International Football Federation (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, called for a month-long ceasefire in Ukraine during the 2022 World Cup on Tuesday, assuring that sport can play a unifying role.
“My appeal to all of you is to consider a one-month temporary ceasefire during the World Cup,” he said during a luncheon for G20 leaders gathered on the Indonesian island of Bali.
In the absence of a truce, the official, who was decorated by the Kremlin after the 2018 World Cup, spoke of the possibility of “humanitarian corridors” or anything that could lead to a resumption of dialogue.
Infantino praised the unifying role of football, noting that Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup and that Ukraine is a candidate to host the competition in 2030 with Spain and Portugal.
“We are not so naive as to think that football can solve the world’s problems, but it is an opportunity to do what we can to end conflicts”, he underlined.
The 22nd edition of the World Cup starts on Sunday, with the duel between hosts Qatar and Ecuador, for Group A, and ends on December 18th.
*With Lusa
