Soccer great PelÃ© urges Putin to stop war in Ukraine

Posted June 01, 2022 7:00 am

By MAURICIO SAVARESE

Ukraine fans hold up an anti-war banner at the end of the World Cup 2022 qualifying play-off soccer match between Scotland and Ukraine at Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP) The Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) - PelÃ© published a message Wednesday urging Vladimir Putin to stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions.

The 81-year-old PelÃ©, 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 to the soccer World Cup. Ukraine will face Wales on Sunday for a spot in Qatar.

'œToday 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,'ť the Brazilian great said in a post on Instagram that came with a plea to Putin: 'œStop the invasion. There's absolutely no justification for this continued violence.'ť

'œWhen 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,'ť the three-time World Cup winner posted. 'œThe power to stop this conflict is on your hands. The same ones I shook in Moscow at our last meeting in 2017.'ť

The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights says more than 4,000 civilians have been killed and almost 5,000 wounded in Ukraine.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting via video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) The Associated Press

The Ukrainian team celebrate at the final whistle of the World Cup 2022 qualifying play-off soccer match between Scotland and Ukraine at Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. (Malcolm Mackenzie/PA via AP) The Associated Press

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