Poland refuses to play 2022 World Cup play-off against Russia

Poland will not play their 2022 World Cup play-off with Russia in Moscow on 24 March due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the president of the Polish football federation said on Saturday.

The conflict has entered the third day since Russian leader Vladimir Putin unleashed a full-scale invasion that has killed dozens of people, forced more than 50,000 to flee Ukraine in just 48 hours and sparked fears of a wider conflict in Europe.

"The time for talking is over. It is time to act. Due to the escalation of the Russian Federation's aggression in Ukraine, the Polish team does not envisage playing the play-off against Russia," wrote Cezary Kulesza, adding it was the "only correct decision".

He said he would work with the Swedish and Czech federations- the winners of their match would have to play in Russia (on 29 March) if the latter beat Poland- to present a unified position to FIFA.

The three federations issued a joint statement on Thursday demanding FIFA move the respective play-offs from Russia- who only four years ago hosted the World Cup finals.

It is the right decision! I can’t imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues. Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can’t pretend that nothing is happening. https://t.co/rfnfbXzdjF

— Robert Lewandowski (@lewy_official) February 26, 2022

Polish captain Robert Lewandowski, who had tweeted on Friday he would consult his team-mates about the match, welcomed his federation's move.

"The right decision!" tweeted Bayern Munich's star striker.

"I cannot imagine playing a match with the Russian national team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues.

"Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we cannot pretend that nothing is happening."

On Friday the 33-year-old had expressed his rejection of war.

"Everything which is beautiful in sports is against what war brings," he said.

"For all people who value freedom and peace this is a time of solidarity with the victims of the military aggression in Ukraine."

FIFA did not react to the latest Polish move on Saturday when approached by AFP.

'Must live in peace' 

However, on Thursday FIFA president Gianni Infantino refused to take a decision regarding the play-offs when he held a press conference hours after the invasion began.

He said "FIFA condemns the use of force" adding he was "shocked" by what he had seen but would not be rushed into a decision over moving the matches.

"The first match is in a month, we hope of course that this situation will be resolved well before then," he said.

"We really want to believe that will be the case, but we can take a decision over that at any moment."

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 28 May and awarded it to Paris.

UEFA made no reference to its relationship with Gazprom, the Russian state energy giant that is one of their key sponsors.

UEFA also announced that Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams competing in international competitions must play home matches at neutral venues "until further notice".

Spartak Moscow, in the Europa League, are the only club from either Russia or Ukraine still involved in European competition this season.

UEFA's decision was followed shortly afterwards by Formula One announcing they were cancelling this year's Russian Grand Prix due to be held in Sochi on 25 March.

Several Russian sports stars also voiced their opposition to the war.

Tennis world number seven Andrey Rublev scrawled "No war please" on a television camera after he reached the final of the Dubai ATP tournament.

Russian NHL ice hockey star Alex Ovechkin pleaded for peace: "Please no more war, we must live in peace," he said after training in Philadelphia.

His compatriot Pavel Sivakov, who rides for the elite Ineos cycling team, echoed Ovechkin's sentiments: "I am totally against the war. The majority of Russians only want peace and never asked for this to happen."