FIFA Under Pressure After Poland And Sweden Announce Boycotts
The announcement of a boycott by Poland and Sweden for the World Cup play-offs because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine is increasing the pressure on the world football association FIFA. World footballer Robert Lewandowski clearly supported the Polish association's declaration of intent not to play a knockout game against Russia.
"It's the right decision! I can't imagine playing a game against the Russian national team in a situation where armed aggression continues in Ukraine," wrote the 33-year-old FC Bayern forward. "Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we cannot pretend nothing is happening."
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Poland is actually supposed to play in Russia in the semi-finals of the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on March 24th. In view of Russia's attack on Ukraine, not an option for the Polish association PZPN. "No more words, it's time to act!" tweeted association president Cezary Kulesza on Saturday.
Regardless of FIFA's decision, we won't play Russia in March
KARL ERIK NILSSON
"In connection with the escalation of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team will not play a play-off game against the Russian team. It's the only decent decision." Discussions are being held with the associations of Sweden and the Czech Republic in order to present a joint statement to FIFA.
A little later, the Swedish association joined the Poles and announced that they would not play the World Cup play-offs against Russia. "Regardless of where the game would take place," said the SvFF on Saturday. The association asked FIFA to cancel the playoffs involving Russia at the end of March. "But regardless of FIFA's decision, we will not play Russia in March," said FA chief Karl-Erik Nilsson.
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The associations from Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic had previously announced their refusal to host the World Cup play-offs in Russia. FIFA initially did not take any action on Thursday.
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. If the Russians make it to the final, their opponents there on March 29th would be either Sweden or the Czech Republic. Ukraine will play in Scotland in their semifinals on March 24th.
Gazprom in focus
The European Football Union UEFA has already made the first far-reaching decision by moving the Champions League final from St. Petersburg to Paris. The continental association wants to deal with further consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the near future. The role of the controversial Russian financier Gazprom is also increasingly coming into focus.
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"Further meetings of the UEFA Executive Committee will be held shortly to deal with additional matters," UEFA said on Saturday. Earlier, the English newspaper The Times reported that UEFA was in the process of terminating the contract with Gazprom on Friday evening.
According to DFB interim president Rainer Koch, the UEFA executive committee had not yet dealt with Gazprom at its crisis meeting on Friday. "UEFA's sponsorship partnership with Gazprom was not on today's agenda, which is why no decisions were made in this regard. However, this is an issue that understandably concerns us," said the German ex-co-member.
The Russian state-owned company Gazprom is a premium sponsor of UEFA for the Champions League and also one of the main sponsors for the European Championship 2024 in Germany.
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