December 16 – FIFA has been criticised by Ukraine for an “unacceptable error” after it appeared to exclude Crimea as a part of the nation throughout final week’s European draw for of the 2026 World Cup.
The blunder occurred in the midst of the draw presentation when a FIFA graphic excluded Crimea from the Ukrainian area, immediately resulting in a backlash from Kyiv. Crimea has been underneath Russian occupation since 2014 with solely a handful of nations recognising the peninsula as Russian territory.
The graphic was supposed to point out international locations that can’t be drawn to play towards one another for geopolitical causes and included Ukraine vs Belarus.
Ukraine International Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhy took to X to remark: “By redrawing worldwide borders in yesterday’s broadcast, you not solely acted towards worldwide legislation, but additionally supported Russian propaganda, struggle crimes, and the crime of aggression towards Ukraine. We anticipate a public apology.”
FIFA mentioned it was “conscious of a problem” and that the picture had been eliminated although there was no trace of contrition regardless of the Ukrainian Soccer Affiliation additionally writing to FIFA secretary-general Mathias Grafström and UEFA secretary-general Theodore Theodoridis over the matter.
“We attraction to you to specific our deep concern in regards to the infographic map [shown] on December 13, 2024,” the letter reads.
“Considering a variety of official choices and resolutions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA government committee since 2014… we emphasise that immediately’s model of the cartographic picture of Ukraine… is totally unacceptable and appears like an inconsistent place of FIFA and UEFA.”
Ukraine have been positioned in Group D alongside Iceland, Azerbaijan and the yet-to-be-determined winners of France’s Nations League quarter-final towards Croatia.
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