Poland announce boycott of Russia qualifier in response to invasion of Ukraine

Poland have refused to play against Russia in their upcoming World Cup qualifier.

The country’s football association and leading players have announced a joint stand to boycott the play-off match set for Moscow on March 24.

The decision comes in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Polish FA president Cezary Kulesza said on Twitter on Saturday it was “time to act”.

A number of players backed the stance with striker Robert Lewandowski saying “we can’t pretend that nothing is happening”.

The match is a semi-final on Path B of the European qualifying play-offs for this year’s World Cup in Qatar. The winners were due to face Sweden or the Czech Republic for a place in the tournament.

The PA news agency has contacted world governing body FIFA for comment.

Retweeting an earlier post from Kulesza, Poland’s record goalscorer Lewandowski wrote: “It is the right decision! I can’t imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues.

“Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can’t pretend that nothing is happening.”

It comes after the football federations of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic issued a joint statement earlier this week to say they did not intend to play in Russia.

No more words, time to act! The Polish national team does not intend to play the play-off match against Russia.- Polish FA president Cezary Kulesza

They called on FIFA and its European counterpart UEFA to offer “alternative solutions” but Poland have now decided to go further and boycott altogether.

Kulesza tweeted: “No more words, time to act! Due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine, the Polish national team does not