World Cup of Shame: Blood on the ball - #Cupofshame

**Avaaz billboard truck outside of Wembley Stadium at England-Italy match calls on teams to demand the bombing stop before the World Cup begins -- or else move the World Cup from Russia**

Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHskyoFEN7

A mobile ad truck with the message “Russia can’t host the World Cup while bombing Syrian kids #Cupofshame” circled around Wembley Stadium in London today, while the national teams of England and Italy were playing a friendly match inside.

Global civic movement Avaaz commissioned the truck to highlight the atrocities committed by the Russian army in Syria. In the last three days alone, Russian airstrikes have killed 69 Syrian children.

Avaaz Campaign Director Alice Jay said:

“Putin’s 2018 World Cup is set to be the Cup Of Shame. People from all around the world are calling on Ministers and teams to blow the whistle on Russia’s bombing of Syrian families. If their airstrikes don’t stop, the games should be moved.”

The action comes on the back of a massive campaign of 850,000 people from every country on Earth, calling on governments and teams, including England and Italy, to speak out to show Syrian lives matter and demand the bombing stops before the World Cup begins -- or else to move the World Cup from Russia. Avaaz is calling on:

• Star players like Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling to speak out for Syrian children and call for a World Cup of Peace
• Football associations like the FA & FIFA to call for the World Cup to be moved if Russia does not stop the bombings

A similar action took place in Berlin in front of the Olympia stadium, where Germany and Brazil played a friendly match.

For photos and video b-roll, please get in touch via media@avaaz.org or contact Olivia Boyd at +44 (0)7977 272 193.