FIFA deny request from Ukrainian president to show video during World Cup final

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had a request turned down by FIFA to broadcast a message live during the World Cup final.

Zelenskyy had initially offered a videolink to be played during the final between France and Argentina but it was not approved by football's world governing body.

The message would have most likely have been used for the purpose of raising awareness to the current war that is ongoing between Ukraine and Russia.

Russia's team were expelled from qualifying for the men's World Cup due to the war, but military ally Belarus are still able to take part in FIFA and UEFA competitions.

A source who revealed the information revealed Zelenskyy's reason behind wanting to screen the message.

"We thought FIFA wanted to use its platform for the greater good," said the source, who added there were still talks between Ukraine's Government and FIFA.

The president has reached out to other sports during this difficult time, including the International Olympic Committee.

Although the Ukrainian was upset with the IOC's openness to allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete neutrally at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, claiming that this should not be allowed until after the war has ended.

He also added that "as long as Russia destroys peaceful life - only isolation", urging that the IOC contribute towards the rebuilding of sports facilities destroyed during the war.

Zelenskyy attended the G20 Summit virtually last month in Bali and held talks with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach this week, as he looks to continue to seek support and condemnation of Russia.

Earlier this month, Bach told the IOC Executive Board that it had to find ways to overcome the "dilemma" of Russian and Belarusian athletes' participation at Paris 2024.

The IOC has recommended that they are banned from international competition at present, but is also exploring a proposal whereby they could compete in Olympic Council of Asia qualifiers.

The war has seen sportsmen take arms, including the likes of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, alongside Oleksandr Usyk, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Andriy Shevchenko, who recently revealed he was close to being hit by a drone strike in Ukraine.