FIFA president Gianni Infantino urges Russia-Ukraine ceasefire during Qatar World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infanti urged world leers on Tuesday to call for a ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine during World Cup that starts this week.

Just days after asking World Cup teams to avoid political and human rights issues swirling around host nation Qatar and focus just on soccer, Infanti seemed to stray from his own vice on a trip from Arabian Gulf to Indonesia for  Group of 20 meeting.

World Cup that starts Sunday could be “that positive trigger,” Infanti said, for seeking peace after nearly nine months of what FIFA described as “conflict in Russia and Ukraine.”

“We are t naïve to believe that football can solve world’s problems,” FIFA president told delegates from world’s political heavyweight nations.

“So my plea, to all of you, is to think on a temporary ceasefire, for one month, for duration of FIFA World Cup, or at least implementation of some humanitarian corridors, or anything that could le to resumption of dialogue as a first step to peace,” Infanti said.

proposal echoed aims of Olympic Truce — a United Nations-backed modern renewal of trition to cease fighting and grant safe pass to games in ancient Greece.

Russia inved Ukraine on Feb. 24, four days after closing ceremony at Beijing Winter Games.

Infanti, who is a member of International Olympic Committee, did t directly condemn Russia or refer to President Vlimir Putin. Infanti and Putin worked closely toger before and during Russia’s hosting of 2018 World Cup, which FIFA president praised at time for showing a new and welcoming side of country.

It was unclear if a ceasefire would be welcomed by Ukraine’s people and its president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who dressed G-20 summit by video link. He called for a complete withdrawal of Russian troops and giving back Ukrainian control of its territory

“Ukraine should t be offered to conclude compromises with its conscience, sovereignty, territory and independence,” Zelenskyy said. “And if Russia says that it supposedly wants to end this war, let it prove it with actions.”

With Zelenskyy’s backing, Ukraine’s soccer federation has teamed with Spain and Portugal in bidding to jointly host 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. A host for that tournament will be picked in 2024.

Infanti ded that “we kw that our main focus as a sports organization is and should be sports.”

“But because football unites world, this particular FIFA World Cup, with five billion people watching it, can be a trigger for a positive gesture, for a sign or a mess of hope,” Infanti said.

most political World Cup of modern era arrives at a time of turmoil on streets in Iran after death in September of a 22-year-old woman earlier detained by country’s morality police.

Iran begins its World Cup campaign Monday against England — and later plays United States in Group B — and some players have openly supported protests at home.

“Everybody has right to express mselves.” team’s Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz said Tuesday at a news conference, ding it was t a distraction.

“It is out of () question to think that Iran national team is suffering any sort of issues like that. y want to make history,” Queiroz said.

Iran has never vanced from group st at a World Cup.