Ukraine granted national team permits for Scotland World Cup play off as Europe opens door for training abroad

Ukrainian national team players will be given licences to leave the country in order to train and play against Scotland.

The World Cup play-off in June was postponed from March earlier this month due to Russia's invasion of the eastern European country.

Last week Ukrainian FA president Andriy Pavelko was unsure if the match could even go ahead then given the unstable nature of the brutal war, as 16 members of the last squad were domestic-based.

Currently no males between 18 to 60 is allowed to leave with Ukraine in a state of martial law but their minister for sport, Vadym Gutzeit is set to sign off special permits that will allow teams from football and other sports to leave the country and train abroad.

And that makes the prospect of the Qatar 2022 semi-final being played in three months' time more realistic.

Gutzeit, a former Olympic fencer, said: "It is very important for us that our elite sporting teams are able to show the world that we are and always will be the Ukrainian national team.

"Many countries in Europe have offered to host us and provide all the conditions for training.

"We really need our sports athletes to compete at international competitions, raise our flag, have an anthem. We are trying to get our athletes to go abroad and train."

Reports in Ukraine have suggested the permits have already been issued to male athletes, swimmers and wrestlers and the Ukraine football team's players will soon be handed permission to leave too and set up a training camp.