Sweden has joined Poland and announces that they will not play against Russia in a potential World Cup final in March, in light of Russian aggression against Ukraine

The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) has together with its Polish counterparts announced that they will refuse to play against Russia in their upcoming World Cup qualifier.

The Polish Football Association had previously issued a statement explaining its position, with a number of players following suit.

The two national bodies – like Russia’s other potential opponent, the Czech Republic – had called for the game or games to be moved to another location, and issued a joint statement calling for “alternative solutions”.

But Sweden has now gone even further and announces a refusal to play against Russia even if a new venue is identified, while urging FIFA to take action.

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“The Swedish Football Association’s board has decided that the Swedish men’s national team will not play a possible play-off match against Russia – regardless of where the match is played.” a statement from the body ready.

“The Federal Board also urges FIFA to cancel the play-off matches in March in which Russia participates.”

Karl-Erik Nilsson, chairman of the Swedish Football Association, is quoted as saying that “The illegal and deeply unjust invasion of Ukraine currently makes all football exchanges with Russia impossible.

“We therefore urge FIFA to decide that the play-off matches in March in which Russia participates will be canceled. But regardless of what FIFA chooses to do, we will not play against Russia in March,” says Nilsson.

Poland and Russia will meet in the semifinals of the World Cup finals on March 24 at Moscow’s VTB Arena, where the winner will face Sweden or the Czech Republic three days later for a place in the tournament in Qatar.

If Russia beats Poland, they will also host the qualifier on March 27.

“Due to the Russian Federation’s escalation of aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team does not intend to play the play-off match against the Republic of Russia,” said Cezary Kulesza, president of the Polish Football Federation (PZPN).

Poland captain Robert Lewandowski said: “It is the right decision! I can not imagine playing a match with the Russian national team in a situation where armed aggression in Ukraine continues.”

“Russian football players and fans are not responsible for this, but we can not pretend that nothing happens,” added the Bayern Munich striker.

The comments from SvFF come after Sweden’s Minister of Sports Anders Ygeman called on the EU to take measures in light of the situation in Ukraine.

“As long as the Russian aggression continues, I want the EU to make a decision that we should not have any participation in Russian events and we should exclude Russian professional practitioners from participating in events in other countries,” Ygeman told Swedish news agency TT.