Shakhtar Donetsk ask FIFA to remove Iran from World Cup

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk has demanded the world football governing body to remove Iran from the forthcoming World Cup in Qatar, and include Ukraine instead.

"Ukraine should be at the World Cup. Iran deserves no place there!" Sergei Palkin, the club's CEO, said in a statement on Twitter.

"While the Iranian leadership will have fun watching their national team play at the #WorldCup, Ukrainians will be killed by Iranian drones and Iranian missiles. Almost 250 such drones have already attacked peaceful cities of #Ukraine."

The West has accused Iran of supplying drones to Russia to attack multiple targets in Ukraine, where Moscow launched a "special military operation" in February.

"Shakhtar Football Club calls on #FIFA and the entire international community to immediately ban Iran's national team from playing at the World Cup for the country's direct participation in terrorist attacks on Ukrainians," Palkin said.

"The vacant place should be taken by the national team of #Ukraine, which proved that it is worthy of participation in the mundial. With unequal conditions with other national teams during the play-offs, they played with their heart."​​​​​​​

While Ukraine were defeated by Wales in a play-off in June, FIFA banned Russia and Belarus from the international competition following the war.

Qatar 2022, the first World Cup in the northern hemisphere's winter, will be held between Nov. 20 and Dec. 18.