WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland and Sweden said they would not play their soccer World Cup qualifiers against Russia in March, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the governing bodies of both national teams said on Saturday.
The playoff matches are set to be held in March to fill a slot for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and several Poland players including captain Robert Lewandowski backed the decision with statements on social media.
“In light of the escalation of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team is not going to play a match against Russian Republic,” Poland’s Football Association chief Cezary Kulesza wrote on Twitter.
“This is the only right decision. We’re in talks with Swedish and Czech association to present a common position to FIFA.”
Russia is scheduled to host Poland in the semi-finals of its strand of the World Cup playoffs on March 24 and, if its team advances, is scheduled to host either Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 in the Path B final.
The Swedish FA later said that its team would not face the Russians regardless of where the match is played.
“The men’s national team will not play against Russia – regardless of where the match is played. The Federal board also urges FIFA to cancel the play-off matches in which Russia were meant to participate in March.”
Swedish Football Association chairman Karl-Erik Nilsson warned Russia could not take part in football “as long as this madness continues.”
Russia were meant to play Poland in Moscow on March 24, with Sweden or the Czech Republic facing the winning side again in Moscow on March 29.
(Reporting by Alicja Ptak, Writing by Michael Kahn, Editing by Catherine Evans)
Reuters
