Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden Refuse to Play World Cup Qualifying Playoffs in Russia

[RandySF]

he Poland, Czech Republic and Sweden soccer federations have issued a joint statement saying they will “not consider traveling to Russia” for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers given the current conflict in Ukraine.

On March 24, Russia and Poland are set to meet in Moscow as part of the new UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff format that features three four-team brackets for the region's final three World Cup berths in Qatar. The winner of Russia-Poland will go on to face the winner of Sweden vs. Czech Republic with a spot in the World Cup on the line.

And if Russia wins its semifinal against Poland, that critical match for a trip to Qatar is also set to take place in Moscow.

“Based on the current alarming development in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the security situation, the Football Associations of Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic express their firm position that the playoff matches to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, scheduled for 24 and 29 March 2022, should not be played in the territory of the Russian Federation," the statement read.




https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/02/24/poland-czech-republic-sweden-russia-world-cup-qualifying-playoffs

[Bev54]

1. Russia should not be permitted to compete in World Cup qualifiers let alone

in the world cup. Never again as long as Putin is still in power.

[OnDoutside]

3. 100% agree.

[SheltieLover]

9. +1

[Cha]

2. I bet that was an Easy

Decision!
💙

[blue-wave]

4. I just love our newer NATO members

Sweden, Finland and yes, Ukraine, you're next!!

[TomWilm]

6. Ukraine might be very willing ...

... but there is still not enough support inside NATO for them: While Ukraine's military has improved since 2014, they still need to implement legal, economic and anti-corruption reforms to join NATO.

Sweden: According to the recent survey, 37% of respondents said yes to NATO membership, while 35% said no. However, a full 28% remain undecided. A clear majority, 59%, also say they are afraid of Russia as a superpower, while 29% say they are afraid of the US as a superpower.

Finland: Only 28% of Finns are for, and 42 per cent against, the notion of Finland joining Nato.

[blue-wave]

7. And those polls were taken before Pooty's invasion, I take it. Let's poll them today.

Yes, it will take time, but there are no obstacles, even for Ukraine, that can't be fixed.

[TomWilm]

8. Dream on!

Be aware, that there is no given automatic response of defense in the NATO pact. Turkey has several times asked for Article 5 help after attacks from Syria, which has been rejected every time.

In my country Denmark there has been a solid support for NATO, in all the years since the organization was created, even through the many bad years for NATO. The same supporters of NATO voted against spreading more nukes around in the 1980ies, but were still supporters.

This pattern has NEVER been seen in Finland and Sweden, where the opposition has been solid through all these earlier crises. And there is NO sign this will sway this time. They have the same lose attachment to NATO as Ukraine, and seems contend with keeping it this way.

[ShazzieB]

5. Well played, Polish, Czech, and Swedish footballers!

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Note that this is just a refusal to play in Russia, rather than calling off the match(es)

It's just a safety thing, so far. UEFA, the European soccer body, already said its club matches in Russia (and Ukraine, in theory) cannot be played there:

Spartak Moscow is the last Russian or Ukrainian club still involved in a European club tournament — in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League — and it was drawn to play Germany's RB Leipzig. But Spartak will have to play the March 17 home leg of that series at a neutral venue after the UEFA executive committee ruling.

The decision was all-encompassing of all Russian and Ukrainian clubs still involved in European competition, but in practice it only applies to Spartak which "will be required to play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice," per the statement released by UEFA.

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/soccer/news/football-russia-invasion-ukraine-fifa-uefa-champions-league/dgbsrowqfwgjrtz2fhllpwfw