Sweden & Poland Refuse to Play World Cup Qualifier Game With Russia

By
Gan Zhen Yin
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As the world keeps track of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, world leaders and organizations such as NATO and the European Union have started to take action in response to Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine.

This reaction is not restricted to world powers as well—the UEFA has since stripped Russia’s hosting rights for the Champions League final and on 26 February, Poland has announced that they will not play their football World Cup qualifier against Russia.

Details on the World Cup Qualifier Match

The World Cup qualifier against Russia was due to take place next month.

However, the president of the Polish Football Association Cezary Kulesza has said that the Polish national team will not play their match against the Russian Republic “in light of the escalation of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.”

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Moscow was arranged to host Poland in the semi-finals of its strand of the World Cup playoffs on 24 March. If the team advances, Moscow was then to host either Sweden or the Czech Republic on 29 March in the Path B final.

Kulesza has also added that the Polish association was in touch with the Swedish and Czech associations “to bring forward a joint statement to FIFA.”

The Swedish federation released a statement in line with Kulesza’s position as well.

Their statement said, “The men’s national team will not play against Russia—regardless of where the match is played. The Federal Board also urges FIFA to cancel the play-off matches in March in which Russia participates.”

Reactions From Other Football Players

Some Polish national team players have voiced their support for Kulesza’s decision.

In a tweet, national team captain Robert Lewandowski said that he could not “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 nothing is happening,” concluded Lewandowski.

Poland goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny wrote in an Instagram post as well voicing his support for the association’s decision.

“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,” said Szczesny.

Sharing the same stance with Lewandowski, he cannot pretend that “nothing has happened.”

Szczesny ends the post by writing, “I know my impact may only be symbolic but I call on FIFA and UEFA to take action and hold Russian Federation accountable for their actions.”

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin begin the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed thus far.

The United Nations officials have reported 25 civilian deaths and said that about 100,000 were believed to have left Ukraine to escape the crisis.

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Gan Zhen Yin
Email: [email protected]