The Polish national football team refused to play a match with the Russian team for the right to qualify for the 2022 World Cup (WCH). This was announced by the President of the Polish Football Association (PZPN) Cesar Kulesha. He explained that the decision was made “in connection with the escalation of Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
“The end of the words, it’s time to act!.. The Polish national team does not intend to play the playoff match against Russia. This is the only right decision. We are negotiating with the federations of Sweden and the Czech Republic in order to convey a common position to FIFA (International Football Federation),” the PZPN president wrote in Twitter.
On March 24, the Russian team was supposed to host the Polish team in Moscow in the semi-final of the playoffs. The football teams of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic refused to go to the games in Russia and asked FIFA and the European Football Union (UEFA) to find new venues for the World Cup matches.
UEFA has already decided to move the final match of the Champions League football from St. Petersburg to Paris. The decision on the matches of the national teams has not yet been made.
In addition, the International Automobile Federation canceled the Formula 1 stage in Sochi.
Read about how Russia is deprived of international competitions due to the military operation in Ukraine in the material “Kommersant” “Scorched Playground”.