FIFA’s decisions on Russia have failed to quell a Polish-led campaign once morest the Russians over the war in Ukraine.
On Sunday, FIFA condemned Russia’s “use of force in its invasion of Ukraine,” and said it had not organized international matches in Russia, and the team would not play under the Russian flag or the national anthem.
FIFA announced that the national team will not participate under the name Russia, but will be under the name of the Russian Football Association, and its matches will be held “on neutral stadiums” and without fans.
But the president of the Polish Football Association, Cesare Kulesa, criticized FIFA’s position, and called for Russia to be excluded from the World Cup.
Today’s FIFA decision is totally unacceptable. We are not interested in participating in this game of appearances. Our stance remains intact: Polish National Team will NOT PLAY with Russia, no matter what the name of the team is.
– Cezary Kulesza (@Czarek_Kulesza) February 27, 2022
“FIFA’s decision today is completely unacceptable, we have no desire to play this match, our position is still clear, the Polish national team will not play once morest Russia, regardless of what name it will play,” Kulesa wrote on his Twitter account.
“If FIFA’s human rights policy is more than just words on paper, now is the time to activate it and exclude the Russian Football Federation from the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar,” he added in a statement.
World Cup Qualifiers
Poland is scheduled to face the Russian national team on March 27 in the European qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Czech and Swedish federations – who play in the same play-off with Poland and Russia – refused to face the Russian team.
FIFA made it clear that it will try to reach an appropriate and acceptable solution with Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic, noting that it is talking to all the federations in those countries on this issue.
The FA also said the national team would not play any matches once morest Russia “in the near future”.
Statement from The FA: pic.twitter.com/mBTJ2y5gh8
– The FA (@FA) February 27, 2022
An FA spokesman said: “In solidarity with Ukraine and condemnation of the atrocities committed by the Russian leadership, the Football Association confirms that we will not play Russia in any international matches in the near future. This includes any potential match at any level, whether for adults, youth, youth or people with disabilities. special”.
Additional penalties
And FIFA indicated – in its statement – the possibility of imposing more sanctions.
“FIFA will continue its ongoing dialogue with the International Olympic Committee, the European Football Association (UEFA) and other sports bodies to take any additional measures or sanctions, including the possibility of exclusion from competitions, and this can be implemented in the near future if the situation does not improve quickly,” the statement added. “.
On Friday, the International Olympic Committee urged the international federations to move or postpone their competitions scheduled to be in Russia or Belarus.
Russian forces entered Ukraine across the border with Belarus when the invasion began last Thursday.
The European Football Association had stripped Saint Petersburg of hosting the Champions League final and awarded it to the French capital, Paris, and decided to hold the continental matches for Russia and Ukraine on neutral ground.