FIFA World Cup Play Offs' boycott and Russia's Invasion: Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic boycott Play-off

 

FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs is going to start next month .A dozen European national soccer teams along with Russia set to participate in World Cup qualifying play-offs next month .Poland ,Sweden and Czech Republic announced that they will not travel to Russia for cup play-off because of the invasion of Russia on Ukraine. 

Polish football association said that team does not intend to play the game. Poland boycotted their World Cup play-off against Russia. Russia is due to host Poland in Moscow on 24 March, while Ukraine travel to Scotland on the same day. Furthermore, Robert Lewandowski the captain of Poland soccer team said that” We can’t pretend the nothing is happened. FIFA also thinking on this situation after Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic joint boycott of play-off matches in Russia.

Kulesza the president of Poland Football association tweeted on Saturday “No more words, time to act,”

Sweden and the Czech Republic boycott the play offs because the winner of the play-off between Sweden and the Czech Republic will have to travel Russia. The winner of the match between Sweden-Czech Republic have to play with Russia on March 29, if Russia wins. To place in world cup which would be held in Qatar in November,2022.

Sweden and Poland jointly said that they will not play against Russia where s of where the match is played because of the invasion of Ukraine.

Countries football associations also recommended FIFA to cancel the all play-off matches involving Russia.

 

 How else has sport responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
Sports Associations , clubs and players cancelling or postponing events which are due to be held in the Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine.

How Sports community responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?

sports governing bodies, clubs and players reacted to the invasion of Russia on Ukraine. They cancelling or postponing events which are planned to held in the region. UEFA moved the match away from St Petersburg and champion also will played in Paris. UEFA ordered Soccer clubs of Russia and Ukraine and their national teams to play their home matches away from the region.

Russia’s Formula 1 Grand Prix which scheduled to held in Sochi in September, has been cancelled.

International Olympic Committee urged the International sports federations to move or cancel events which are scheduled to held in Russia or Belarus.

Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers involving Netherlands v Russia on 27 February and Great Britain v Belarus on 28 February has postponed by The International Basketball Federation (FIBA)  

Russia’s national airline Aeroflot has lost sponsorship deal with Manchester United because of its invasion on Ukraine

On 24^th February, football clubs, players and fans anti-war T-shirts and banners and showed their support for Ukraine against Russia invasion of Ukraine.

What else players say?

Poland Soccer team’s captain Robert  Lewandowski, all-time highest goal scorer for Poland ,said that  he can’t imagine of playing match with Russian team when Russia’s continued in Ukraine. Furthermore, he said that players and fans of Russian team are nor responsible but we can’t pretend that nothing is happening.

Kulesza the president of Polish FA said: “. Polish team will not play the play off against Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine”.

Furthermore, he said that we are urging the Sweden and Czech Republic for having a same stance to FIFA on boycott of play offs.”

Polish goalkeeper said that his values would not let him play.

Other players of polish soccer team, including Mateusz Kulich, Jan Bednarik and Mattie Cash posted messages on social media which outlined their position.

The Polish players also highlighted the case of team-mate Tomasz Kedziora, who in the Ukrainian capital and plays for Dynamo Kyiv a Ukrainian soccer club.

BBC Sport learned that the UK government planning a meeting with UK sports bodies what else could be done to intensify Russia’s sporting isolation.

Executive board meeting of the International Paralympic Committee will hold an on Wednesday to discuss the crisis.

IPC understand that their rules do not allow to exclude the because it can be challenges by Russia in court successfully. Therefore, a meeting is scheduled next week for further decision.