Lukashenko lashes out at officials because Belarus failed to reach Qatar World Cup finals

Belarus was banned from qualifying for both the 2022 Men’s World Cup and the 2023 Women’s World Cup

The president of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko has publicly criticised senior officials for the country failing to reach the World Cup finals.

A televised meeting saw him berating Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk, Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Igor Lutsky, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko and the President of the Belarusian National Olympic Committee Viktor Lukashenko, because Belarus were not at the finals.

Footage showed the president personally attacking Mr Kovalchuk on the lack of a Belarusian team at the World Cup in Qatar.