The board of the Swedish Football Association has decided that the Swedish men’s national team will not play a possible rematch against Russia – no matter where the match is played. The Federal Board also urges Fifa to cancel the replay matches in March in which Russia is involved.
– The illegal and deeply unjust invasion of Ukraine currently makes all football-related relations with Russia impossible. We therefore encourage Fifa to make a decision that the playoff matches in March in which Russia participates will be canceled. But no matter what Fifa chooses to do, we will not play against Russia in March, says president Karl-Erik Nilsson of the Swedish Football Association.
– We have a hard time believing that Fifa will not follow our call. Russia can not be part of this madness for a long time, Nilsson says.
Earlier on Saturday, Poland announced that they will not play against Russia in the playoff match in the World Cup qualifiers either.
“It’s time to act. Due to the escalation of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team does not intend to play the rematch “, wrote the Polish football president Cezary Kulesza on his Twitter-konto.
According to the current plan, Russia will play Poland in Moscow on March 24, while Sweden will meet the Czech Republic in Solna on the same day. If Russia were to win, they will meet the winner of the Swedish meeting in Moscow on March 29.
—
