Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Poland will not be playing Russia in their World Cup qualifying playoffs due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine as stated by the president of the country’s Football Association, Cezary Kulesza, said on Saturday. Follow all the Football updates only on InsideSport.IN
Poland were scheduled to face Russia for the World Cup 2022 Qualifying playoffs on March 24 in the Russian capital in Moscow. The winner of the playoffs would then go on to face either Sweden or the Czech Republic.
Poland will not play World Cup match with Russia -Polish FA head https://t.co/9id1uBLx8b pic.twitter.com/m3Ff3JTk34
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 26, 2022
Kulesza has also stated that he has spoken with the higher officials in Sweden and the Czech Republic to raise a joint case to the FIFA due to Russia’s recent aggression against Ukraine.
“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,” Kulesza said on Twitter.
“This is the only right decision. We are in talks with Swedish and Czech association to present a common position to FIFA.”
Robert Lewandowski voices his support
Polish star striker Robert Lewandowski has backed the decision taken by the Poland FA to not play against Russia in the World Cup qualification playoffs. The Bayern Munich talisman took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the matter.
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
He tweeted: “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.”
Earlier the 31-year-old openly condemned Russia in their invasion of Ukraine. He highlighted the atrocities of war and voiced his support for the Ukrainian people. “Everything that is beautiful in sports is contradictory to what war brings. For all people who value freedom and peace, this is a time of solidarity with the victims of military aggression against Ukraine,” Lewandowski wrote on social media.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s reaction on the issue
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday assured everyone that they are monitoring the situation and will sit together and discuss their plans of conducting the World Cup qualifying games.
“We continue to monitor the situation,” he said on Thursday. “We will update on the World Cup qualifiers soon. We can take decisions immediately as soon as it’s needed.”
With Russia carrying on with their aggression on Ukraine, various sportspersons have voiced their opinion against them. Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev recently came up with a sign out “No War Please’ after winning the semifinals against Hubert Hurkacz at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Then Formula 1 governing body the FAI has also decided to cancel the Sochi Grand Prix from the calendar of the upcoming season.
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