FIFA's Draw: A Map Mishap Sparks Diplomacy

FIFA apologized to Ukraine for a map error during the World Cup qualifying draw that omitted Crimea from Ukraine's territory. Ukraine demanded a public apology after a graphic misrepresented its borders. The incident highlighted tensions stemming from Russia's occupation of Crimea and FIFA's ban on Russian teams.

FIFA has issued a public apology to the Ukrainian soccer federation following an incident during the World Cup qualifying draw where Crimea was not shown as part of Ukraine on a displayed map.

This error occurred during the event in Zurich, where Ukraine was one of 54 teams in the draw. The disputed peninsula of Crimea, occupied by Russia since 2014, was omitted, sparking frustrations from Ukrainian officials and prompting a request for a public apology.

FIFA clarified that the oversight was unintentional and caused by a third-party supplier, ensuring measures will be taken to prevent similar issues. This incident underscores ongoing tensions, especially after FIFA and UEFA banned Russian teams due to the conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)