President of Poland Andrzej Duda mention player Russian national team as a ‘bandit’ after the Polish national team refused to play against Russia in the 2022 World Cup playoffs.
The statement was made by Duda to support the decision of the Polish Football Federation (PZPN) which refused to face the Russian national team.
“And it’s absolutely true, Mr. President. You don’t want to play against bandits,” Duda said in response to PZPN President Czarek Kulesza’s statement, quoted from RT.
Poland, through Kulesza’s statement, confirmed that the match against Russia in the 2022 World Cup playoffs, 24 March, would not take place. The decision was taken by Poland as a form of protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The time for talking is over. It’s time to move. Due to the escalating aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, the Polish national team does not envision playing the play-offs [Piala Dunia 2022] against Russia,” Kulesza wrote on Twitter.
Poland is not the only one who refuses to face Russia in the 2022 World Cup playoffs. Sweden has also confirmed that it will refuse to play Russia if they meet in the final of the 2022 World Cup playoffs in the European zone.
“Regardless of FIFA’s decision, we will not play against Russia in March,” said Swedish Football Federation president Karl-Erik Nilsson, who confirmed the Swedish national team would reject Russia in the 2022 World Cup playoffs.
Russia, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic are in the same box in the 2022 World Cup playoffs. In the semifinals, 24 March, Russia will play Poland and Sweden vs the Czechs.
The decision of the Polish federation has not only the support of the country’s president. Several Poland international stars, including Robert Lewandowski and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, also refused to face Russia.
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