Because of the invasion of Ukraine
Playoffs for the World Cup: Poland refuses to play against Russia
Robert Lewandowski, captain of the Polish national football team, supports the decision that Poland will not play Russia
© picture alliance / NurPhoto | Photo Olimpik / Picture Alliance
War is raging in Ukraine due to the invasion of Russia. Poland sets up refugee centers and shows solidarity with the Ukrainian people. The Polish national team refuses to play against Russia in the World Cup playoffs.
In view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Poland does not want to play Russia in the playoffs for the World Cup. “It’s time to act,” said the head of the Polish Football Association PZPN, Cezary Kulesza, on Twitter on Saturday. Due to the escalation of violence by Russia, the Polish team “does not intend to play” the playoff game against Russia. This is “the only right decision”.
The game is scheduled for March 24 in Moscow. Kulesza also announced that he would work with the associations from Sweden and the Czech Republic on a unified position. According to the plan, the winner of the duel between Russia and Poland would then have to meet the Czech Republic or Sweden, who face each other in the round before. Ukraine are scheduled to play against Scotland on March 24th. The soccer World Cup will take place in Qatar this year from November 21st to December 18th.
Robert Lewandowski doesn’t want to play against Russia either
Soccer professional Robert Lewandowski, captain of the national team, also spoke up a little later. “It’s the right decision!” he wrote on Twitter: “I can’t imagine playing a game against the Russian team while the aggression in Ukraine continues. Russia’s footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we are can’t pretend nothing is happening.”
The three associations had already asked the world association Fifa in a statement on Thursday not to allow the playoff games to take place in Russia. The European football association Uefa also revoked Russia from hosting the Champions League final on May 28 on Friday.
swell: Twitter, DPA.