Czech Republic refuses to play World Cup qualifier with Russia

Czech Republic’s players celebrate after scoring during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification Group E football match between the Czech Republic and Wales, at the Sinobo stadium in Prague, Czech Republic on October 8, 2021. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP)

The Czech Republic will not play a potential football World Cup qualifier against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the Czech FA said on Sunday.

The Czech ruling body is the latest to pull out of the playoff matches after Poland and Sweden announced on Saturday they would not contest the qualifiers in March to decide who will go to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“The FA executive committee approved unanimously the decision that the Czech national team will under no circumstances play the possible game against Russia’s team in the 2022 World Cup qualification,” the Czech FA said.

“The executive committee tasked FA chairman Petr Fousek and secretary general Michal Valter to talk to UEFA and FIFA in regards to the decision of the executive committee not to play the possible game against Russia.”

Russia is scheduled to host Poland in the semifinals of their strand of the World Cup playoffs on March 24 and, if they advance, to host either Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 in the Path B final.

The Czech FA said it would not play the match even if it was moved to a neutral venue, and called for the invasion to end as soon as possible.