Posted on 02/26/2022 12:31:38 PM PST by COBOL2Java
The Polish and Swedish national teams will not face Russia in a crucial 2022 World Cup qualification playoff matches in March in protest at Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The president of Poland's football association Cezary Kulesza announced the news on Saturday.
"No more words, time to act! 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," he tweeted.
"We are in talks with (Swedish) and (Czech) federations to bring forward a joint statement to FIFA."
Poland was due to travel to Moscow to face Russia on Thursday, March 24, while Ukraine was scheduled to travel to face Scotland on the same day.
The winner of the Poland-Russia game would host either Sweden or Czech Republic on March 29 in the final of their World Cup qualification route.
And the Swedish Football Association (SVFF) said on Saturday its board had decided that its men's national team "will not play a possible playoff match against Russia — regardless of where the match is played.
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From the article:
“”The Federal Board also urges FIFA to cancel the play-off matches in March in which Russia participates,” the SVFF statement added”
Now let’s see if FIFA has any nads.
If you refuse to play any scheduled, sanctioned matches, you forfeit the matches.
By the time Putin is done, Sweden and Poland might have provincial, not international teams.
I think Poland is okay with forfeiting, if it came to that. FIFA should suspend Russia from the World Cup qualification round.
Having said that neither Poland nor Russia have done much of anything in the World Cup before.
That’s my take as well.
Are they going to hand Russia the victory outright?
Or do they let Russia win, and refuse to award them, leaving
the runner-up as the winner?
If the bulk of the teams refuse to play Russia, the Russian teams advancement will be meaningless. The pressure shifts onto FIFA to dump the Russians for the good of the game.
EXCELLENT.
OTHERS NEED TO FOLLOW.
Unless FIFA kicks out Russia which they should. World War is much bigger than a World Cup.
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