Czech Republic refuse to play Russia in 2022 World Cup play-offs: FA
The Czech Football Association on Sunday said the national team would not play Russia in a potential 2022 World Cup play-off in March following the invasion of Ukraine.
"The Czech FA executive committee, staff members and players of the national team agreed it's not possible to play against the Russian national team in the current situation, not even on the neutral venue.
We all want the war to end as soon as possible." pic.twitter.com/NQK6YGNoHJ
— Czech Football National Team (@ceskarepre_eng) February 27, 2022
“The Czech national team will in no case play a potential game against Russia in the World Cup play-offs,” the Czech FA said in a statement, following the same decision by Sweden and Poland.
The Czechs would have to beat Sweden away and Russia would have to beat Poland to set up a clash between the two countries on March 29.
Sweden and Poland said they would not play Russia on Saturday.
The Czechs are due to play Sweden in the first round of the play-offs in Stockholm on March 24, while Russia were due to host Poland in Moscow on the same day.
The football associations of the Czech Republic, Poland and Sweden demand moving the possible World Cup play-off match from Russia.
All three associations made this common decision during Thursday's meeting and informed both FIFA and UEFA about this requirement. https://t.co/umYNUTltIr
— Czech Football National Team (@ceskarepre_eng) February 24, 2022
The Polish, Swedish and Czech federations had issued a statement on Thursday — the day the invasion began — demanding FIFA play the matches away from Russia.