Czechs join Poland, Sweden in refusing to play Russia

Czech Republic's midfielder Tomas Soucek in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification football match between Belarus and the Czech Republic at Kazan's Central stadium on October 11, 2021. (File/AFP)

• The soccer federations of Poland and Sweden made the same decision on Saturday
• The Czech Republic is a potential opponent of Russia in next month’s playoffs

PRAGUE: The Czech Republic joined Poland and Sweden on Sunday in rejecting the to play Russia in the 2022 World Cup qualifying next month in response to that nation’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Czech soccer association’s executive committee said it “unanimously approved a decision that the Czech national team will not in any case play Russia.”
The soccer federations of Poland and Sweden made the same decision on Saturday.
The Czech Republic is a potential opponent of Russia in next month’s playoffs. The winner of the Poland-Russia match is due to host Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 for a place at the World Cup being played in Qatar from Nov. 21-Dec. 18.
The executive committee asked Czech soccer federation head Petr Fousek to lead negotiations with UEFA and FIFA about the Czech position.