Football legend Pelé urges Putin to stop Ukraine war
Pelé has called on the Russian leader to halt his deadly invasion of Ukraine, after Ukraine’s national team beat Scotland 3-1 in a World Cup playoff.
“Today Ukraine tries to forget, at least for 90 minutes, the tragedy that engulfs their country,” said the 81-year-old Brazilian in an Instagram post. “To compete for a World Cup place is already a difficult task — almost an impossible one with so many lives at stake.”
Addressing Putin directly, he added: “Stop the invasion. There’s absolutely no justification for this continued violence.”
“When we met in the past and exchanged smiles accompanied by a long handshake, I never thought one day we would be as divided as we are now,” the three-time World Cup winner posted. “The power to stop this conflict is on your hands. The same ones I shook in Moscow at our last meeting in 2017.”
After defeating Scotland, Ukraine will face Wales for a spot in Qatar.
(AP)
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