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Poland refuses to play World Cup match with Russia

26.02.2022 11:45
Poland’s national squad will not play their 2022 World Cup play-off with Russia in Moscow on March 24 due to that country's military attack on Ukraine earlier this week, the Polish Football Association announced on Saturday.
Polish team captain Robert Lewandowski
Polish team captain Robert LewandowskiMICHAELA REHLE/AFP/East News

"The time for talking is over. It is time to act,” the head of Poland's Football Association Cezary Kulesza tweeted on Saturday. “In light of the escalation of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team is not going to play a match against Russian Republic," he added.

"Right decision! Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we cannot pretend that nothing is happening," Polish star striker Robert Lewandowski commented on Twitter on Saturday.

"Everything which is beautiful in sports is against what war brings," Lewandowski wrote.

"For all people who value freedom and peace this is a time of solidarity with the victims of the military agression in Ukraine,” Lewandowski also said.

Kulesza added he would work with the Swedish and Czech counterparts - the winners of their match would have to play in Russia on March 29 if the latter beat Poland - to present a unified position to FIFA.

The three federations issued a joint statement on Thursday urging FIFA to strip Russia of hosting World Cup playoffs in March in the wake of the Russian invasion.

European football's governing body UEFA punished Russia on Friday by stripping Saint Petersburg of hosting European club football's showpiece event the Champions League final on May 28 and awarded it to Paris.

(mo)

Source: PAP