Sweden still opposes playing Russia, dissatisfied with FIFA
“The Swedish Football Association is disappointed with FIFA’s decision but is determined to continue working with other associations to cancel Russia’s matches in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers,” the body said.
“The Swedish Football Association insists that we will not play any matches against Russia given its illegal and deeply unfair invasion of Ukraine. An attitude shared by, among others, the Czech and Polish football associations. “
The federation said that world football “can not watch silently and not act when countries are attacked completely unfairly.”
The Swedish Federation’s chairman Karl-Erik Nilsson is senior vice president at UEFA, the governing body of European football. Nilsson said on Sunday that he expects a “sharper attitude” from FIFA.
Russia is scheduled to face Poland in a World Cup semi-final on March 24 for the right to host Sweden or the Czech Republic five days later to decide which team will advance to the World Cup in Qatar.
The president of the Polish Football Federation, Cezary Kulesza, said on Sunday that it was “completely unacceptable” that FIFA had not immediately excluded Russia from the World Cup qualifiers, saying that Poland “is not interested in participating in this match of appearances.”
The Czechs went on to say that FIFA’s attitude had not changed their decision not to play against Russia.
Another of Russia’s future opponents, Albania, also said on Sunday that they would not play against that country in any sport. Russia and Albania will meet twice in June in a second-class group in the UEFA Nations League. The group also includes Iceland and Israel.
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