“While the Iranian leadership will enjoy their national team’s matches at the World Cup, the Ukrainians will be killed by Iranian rockets and drones,” said Palkin, who has called for the expulsion of Iran by FIFA and the entire football community. “It would be a fair decision that would draw the world’s attention to a regime that is killing its best people and helping to kill Ukrainians,” he added.
A group of Iranian sportsmen also called for a response to the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests after Iran was expelled from the World Cup last week.
Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov told media today that the Russian military has already used more than 330 Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones to attack Ukraine, about a third of which will reach their destination. According to Budanov, Russia has ordered 1,700 drones of various types from Iran.
Iran will play in Group B at the World Cup against England, Wales and the United States. Wales qualified for the championship after beating Ukraine in the June play-offs, postponed from March due to the war.
