The Czech Republic, Sweden and Poland are all refusing to play Russia in the 2022 World Cup play-off following the invasion of Ukraine, while France call for Russia to be expelled from the tournament.
So far, FIFA and UEFA have only ruled that Russia must play on neutral turf rather than in Moscow, but not that the upcoming play-offs next month should be cancelled.
Poland were the first to declare they would not play, followed by Sweden and today the Czech Republic have also joined the boycott.
That means all three of the sides that could’ve potentially faced Russia will not participate in the play-offs.
“Let’s see if they have the balls to exclude Russia now,” Poland and Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny told DAZN last night.
The President of the French Football Federation, Noel Le Graet, told Le Parisien newspaper today that Russia ought to be expelled from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
France are the current World Cup holders, winning the tournament that was staged in Russia in 2018.
#UPDATE Russia should be expelled from the 2022 World Cup after invading Ukraine, French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet has told Le Parisien newspaper#AFPSports pic.twitter.com/09OknvNnh0
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 27, 2022