Poland, Sweden refuse to play Russia in 2022 World Cup play-offs

Stockholm: Poland and Sweden insisted Saturday they will not play Russia in World Cup play-offs as Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich handed over control of the European champions in the latest shockwaves in sport following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Saturday saw the third day of hostilities since Russian leader Vladimir Putin unleashed a full-scale invasion that has killed dozens of people, forced more than 50,000 to flee Ukraine in just 48 hours and sparked fears of a wider conflict in Europe. “The time for talking is over. It is time to act. Due to the escalation of the Russian Federation’s aggression in Ukraine, the Polish team does not envisage playing the play-off against Russia,” wrote Polish football federation president Cezary Kulesza. His Swedish counterpart soon followed suit. “Whatever FIFA decide, we will not play against Russia in March,” said federation president Karl-Erik Nilsson. Poland are scheduled to play in Moscow on 24 March while the Swedes would be away to Russia were both to win their play-offs. The Swedes first face the Czech Republic.

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. https://t.co/rfnfbXzdjF

— Robert Lewandowski (@lewy_official) February 26, 2022

“The right decision!” tweeted Bayern Munich star and Poland captain Robert Lewandowski. “I cannot imagine playing a match with the Russian national team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues.” Bayern players wore black armbands in their game at Eintracht Frankfurt while Lewandowski opted for a yellow and blue one band. “I decided to wear the armband this morning, the world can not accept what is going on, we have to support Ukraine and the people fighting there,” he said. Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, whose wife is Ukrainian, demanded UEFA and FIFA “hold Russian Federation accountable for their actions.” “My wife was born in Ukraine, there is Ukrainian blood running through the veins of my son, part of our family is still in Ukraine,” he wrote on Instagram. “Seeing the suffering on their faces and fear for their country makes me realise I can’t stand still and pretend that nothing has happened.” FIFA did not react to the latest Polish move on Saturday when approached by AFP. European football’s governing body UEFA are believed also to be considering whether to terminate the reported 40 million euros a year sponsorship contract with Russian gas giant Gazprom. UEFA had already on Friday punished Russia by stripping Saint Petersburg of hosting the Champions League final on 28 May — at the Gazprom Arena — and awarded it to Paris. Meanwhile, the Swedish Government said they were going to try and persuade the other 27 European Union states to impose a blanket sporting ban on Russia for “as long as the invasion of Ukraine lasts”. “The most important thing is that the Russian aggression ceases,” said Swedish Sports Minister Anders Ygeman in a statement. “If the EU decides on a sporting boycott, that will help achieve this target.” On Friday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had called for sports federations to bar the respective national flags of Russia and Belarus . Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.