Poland and Sweden refused to play with Russia in world cup playoffs. For complete news stay till end of this news on viralnewsgossips.com
Poland’s refusal to play its World Cup qualifier against Russia next month in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine gained wider support when Sweden followed with its own plans to protest to FIFA on Saturday.
Polish soccer federation president Cezary Kulesza announced Poland’s decision and said it was in talks with other federations to present a unified position to FIFA, which is responsible for the March 24 game in Moscow.
“No more words, time to act!” Kulesza wrote on Twitter, adding the move was prompted by the “escalation of the aggression.”
Poland captain Robert Lewandowski and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny were among those supporting the decision, with the Bayern Munich striker saying “we can’t pretend that nothing is happening.”
Sweden, a potential opponent of Russia in next month’s playoffs, later joined Poland in declaring its national team would not play a match against the Russians regardless of where it takes place.
“The illegal and deeply unjust invasion of Ukraine currently makes all football fixtures with Russia impossible,” said Karl-Erik Nilsson, the Swedish federation’s chairman. “We therefore urge FIFA to decide that the playoff matches in March in which Russia participates will be canceled.”
The winner of the Poland-Russia match is due to host Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 for a place at the World Cup being played in Qatar from Nov. 21-Dec. 18.
“We have a hard time believing,” Nilsson added, “that FIFA will not follow our call. Russia can not join as long as this madness continues.”
Nilsson is also first vice president at UEFA which has stripped Russia of hosting the Champions League final in St. Petersburg in May. UEFA decided Friday to move that game to Paris.
Lewandowski, Poland’s all-time leading scorer and winner of FIFA’s best-player award for the past two years, supported Kulesza’s announcement.
“I can’t imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues,” Lewandowski said on Twitter. “Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can’t pretend that nothing is happening.”
FIFA has yet to take a clear position on Russia hosting or even playing against Poland.
European soccer body UEFA said Friday that in its competitions all Russian and Ukrainian teams must now move their home games to play in other countries.
A potential precedent for action is from 1992. Both FIFA and UEFA removed Yugoslavia from their competitions following sanctions imposed by the United Nations at the outbreak of war there.
Previously, Poland had only said it did not want to play the qualifying playoff semifinal in Moscow.
Russian troops pressed toward Ukraine’s capital Saturday, after a night of explosions and street fighting that sent Kyiv residents seeking shelter underground.
It was not immediately clear how far Russian troops had advanced. Ukrainian officials reported some success in fending off assaults, but fighting persisted near the capital.
- ‘There are more important things than football,’ say Poland
- Swedish FA add that their side will not play in potential match
Poland will refuse to fulfil their scheduled World Cup playoff against Russia next month in protest against the invasion of Ukraine, the president of Poland’s Football Association, Cezary Kulesza, said on Saturday. The decision was immediately backed by the team’s players, including their star forward Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich.
Sweden, a potential future opponent of Russia in the playoffs, later said they would also refuse to play them “regardless of where the match is played”.
Russia were due to host Poland in “Path B” of the European qualifying playoff semi-finals on 24 March, with the winners progressing to face either Sweden or Czech Republic for a place at the World Cup in Qatar later this year. Kulesza said the Polish association was in discussions with its Swedish and Czech counterparts regarding the matches.
“No more words, time to act!” Kulesza wrote on Twitter. “Due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine the Polish national team does not intend to play the play-off match against Russia. This is the only right decision. We are in talks with Swedish and Czech association to bring forward a joint statement to Fifa.”
The Polish president, Andrzej Duda, replied directly to Kulesza’s Twitter announcement, writing: “And rightly so, Mr. President. You don’t play with bandits!” Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, added: “You cannot play a match against Russia under such circumstances … Thank you so much for this decision.”
Lewandowski also quickly endorsed Kulesza’s words, writing on Twitter: “It is the right decision! I can’t imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues. Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can’t pretend that nothing is happening.”
