Ukraine conflict: Poland denies football playoff game against Russia

Created: 02/26/2022, 12:12 p.m

By: Christian Stör

Robert Lewandowski and Poland don't want to face Russia in the World Cup playoffs.

© Igor Russak/dpa

Robert Lewandowski welcomes the decision of the Polish association: "That's the right decision!"

Warsaw – The Ukraine conflict* is increasingly affecting sport.

Now the Polish Football Association has positioned itself clearly.

In view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine*, the Polish national football team around Bayern star Robert Lewandowski does not want to compete against Russia* in the World Cup play-off.

"Enough words, it's time to act," tweeted FA President Cezary Kulesza on Saturday: "Due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, Poland does not plan to play against the Russian team.

It's the only right decision.” With this, the Polish footballers are going one step further than previously announced.

On Thursday (02/24/2022) they had refused to play on Russian soil.

The game en route to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is scheduled for March 24 in Moscow.

Ukraine conflict: Robert Lewandowski praises the decision

Robert Lewandowski* then spoke up.

"That's the right decision!" Wrote the captain of the national team on Twitter.

"I can't imagine playing a game against the Russian national team in a situation where armed aggression in Ukraine continues." Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for the Ukraine conflict, "but we can't pretend nothing is happening”.

The Polish association is now working on a common position with colleagues from Sweden and the Czech Republic, as these associations are also affected: The winner of the duel between Russia and Poland should then meet the Czech Republic or Sweden, who are facing each other in the round before.

The Russians would also have home rights in another game.

Like Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic had already made it clear that they didn't want to play in Russia.

Ukraine conflict: world football association takes no position

The world association Fifa has not yet taken a position on the position of the football associations.

on Thursday it was said only succinctly that they condemned "the use of force by Russia" and wanted to "continue to monitor" the situation with a view to qualifying for the World Cup.

In the European playoffs for the World Cup finals in Qatar (November 21 to December 18), three tickets will be awarded at the end of March.

In a semi-final path, Poland are scheduled to play in Russia on March 24.

If the Russians made it to the final, their opponents would be Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29th.

Ukraine will play in Scotland in their semifinals on March 24th.

(cs/dpa/sid)