Pelé published a message Wednesday urging Vladimir Putin to stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions. (More Football News)
The 81-year-old Pelé, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, said he published his message to the Russian president on the same day Ukraine’s national team beat Scotland 3-1 in a playoff that took it a step closer tওo the socc🐲er World Cup. Ukraine will face Wales on Sunday for a spot in Qatar.
“Today Ukraine tries to forget, at least for 90 minutes, the tragedy that engulfs their country. To compete for a World Cup place is already a difficult task — almost an impossible one with so many lives at stake,” the Brazilian great said in a post on Instagram that came with a plea to Putin: “Stop the inva💞sion. There’s absolutely no justification for this continued violence.”
“When we met in the past and exchanged smiles accompanied by a long h⛄andshake, 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 oꩵur last meeting in 2017.”
The ಌoffice of the U.N. High Comm😼issioner for Human Rights says more than 4,000 civilians have been killed and almost 5,000 wounded in Ukraine.
