There is exactly a month left before the play-offs for the right to play in the final stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but even now the holding of some of them has been called into question.

The reason is in the joint statement of the national federations of the Czech Republic, Poland and Sweden, which should play in the same way as the Russian team.

On the evening of February 24, a letter to FIFA and UEFA appeared on the official website of the Polish Football Union, in which the three associations expressed their “firm position”: due to the tense situation in Ukraine, the World Cup playoff meetings should not be held in Russia.

“The undersigned are not considering traveling to Russia and playing football matches there.

The military escalation that we are witnessing has serious consequences and significantly reduces the security for our national teams and official delegations, ”the message says.

Rivals of the domestic team demanded from FIFA and UEFA "immediate response and alternative solutions" regarding the venue of the games.

This position was also confirmed by the press officer of the Polish national team, Jakub Kwiatkowski, who stressed that the three indicated teams would not go to Moscow.

The head of the Swedish Football Union, Karl-Erik Nilsson, called holding play-offs in Russia unthinkable.

“Because of the feelings that we have been experiencing since this morning, it suddenly seems almost unthinkable to play a football match in Russia in a few weeks.

Judging by what is happening here and now, today there is absolutely no desire to spend it there, ”the Reuters official quotes.

The draw for the playoffs of the World Cup qualification took place at the end of 2021.

The domestic team, thanks to the successful performance at the group stage, was among the seeded participants and got the opportunity to play the semi-finals of the joints at home.

The match against Poland is scheduled to take place on March 24 in Moscow at the VTB Arena.

Moreover, in case of victory and due to a successful lot, Karpin's wards should also play the final at their home stadium.

Two more teams that got into path B - Sweden and the Czech Republic - will play in Stockholm.

At the same time, the Polish Football Union turned to FIFA with a request to consider holding a meeting in Moscow on Monday "due to the tense political situation."

In FIFA, in response, they promised to monitor what was happening.

In turn, UEFA vice-president Zbigniew Boniek called the idea of ​​boycotting the confrontation absurd.

FIFA promptly responded to the request of Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic.

The International Football Federation condemned what is happening in Ukraine.

As for the joints, they promised to inform in the prescribed manner about all the "updates" regarding the playoff meetings for the right to go to the world championship.

UEFA also promised to publish decisions on the current situation on Friday.

“As the main body of European football, UEFA makes every effort to develop football in accordance with European values ​​such as peace and respect for human rights, in the spirit of the Olympic Charter.

We express our full support to the Ukrainian football community and are ready to lend a helping hand to the Ukrainian people," the organization stressed.

In Russia, the desire of rivals at the joints to gain an advantage, hiding behind security issues, was met with a negative.

So, according to former FIFA vice-president Vyacheslav Koloskov, the RFU, as a member of UEFA, clearly fulfills all the requirements, and therefore there can be no talk of rescheduling meetings from Moscow.

“The Russian Football Union fulfills all obligations in full.

There is no reason to reproach him for the opposite.

For example, the host country of an international match is obliged to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

I think the RFU will cope with this task.

And most importantly, there is no military action on the territory of the Russian Federation and there is no danger.

Therefore, I don’t understand on what basis UEFA can take the side of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, ”the functionary said in a comment to RT.

He also believes that in this situation they are trying to draw Russia into a political discussion.

“This must be prevented by all means, because UEFA is not a political organization.

This is a sports organization, working according to the norms of its charter.

And it is necessary to act clearly within its framework, ”Koloskov added.

In turn, the former midfielder of the Russian national team Diniyar Bilyaletdinov proposed to count Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic for technical defeats if they do not want to come to Moscow.

“It's overkill on their part.

But we didn't expect anything else.

Poland immediately began looking for reasons not to go to Moscow.

You can understand them, because the country is aware that they will not be favorites in the match with Valery Karpin's wards.

Perhaps UEFA will offer to move the meetings to a neutral field, but will the RFU agree to this?

— said the player.

“We must not lose the advantage of our field.

The draw determined that Russia would play at home.

Yes, the situation in the world is not easy, but it has nothing to do with sports.

Unfortunately, there is more politics here than football, ”complained the bronze medalist of Euro 2008.

Igor Kolyvanov, the ex-mentor of the youth teams of Russia, agreed with him.

According to him, the opponents are simply taking advantage of the situation in order to undeservedly gain an advantage in the joints.

“People hope to win without going out on the field and are afraid to come to us.

Everyone will be engaged in such nonsense now, if only not to fly to Russia.

Of course, in this situation, the opponents simply decided to get to the bottom and find a reason not to go.

In theory, sport should remain outside of politics, but incomprehensible excesses constantly happen.

The Poles began to raise this topic in general a few days ago.

To be honest, everything can be expected from Europeans.

The Russian team, according to the draw, deservedly received the right to hold joints at home.

So why should she be deprived of it?

It looks like a desire to put sticks in the wheels, ”summed up the specialist.