The Poles are happy, the Swedes are unhappy: how the world reacts to FIFA's decision to remove the Russian team from the joints of the 2022 World Cup

Sweden disagrees with FIFA decision

The International Football Federation (FIFA) suspended the Russian national team from participation in the play-off match of the qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup, which was to be held on March 24.

The Polish team automatically passed on and now in the playoff final will meet with the winner of the Sweden-Czech Republic meeting.

At the same time, the game between Ukraine and Scotland, scheduled for the same date, will take place only in June. 

FIFA reacted differently to this decision in the world of football.

In the Polish Football Union, they were glad that they were able to achieve their goal.

It was PZPN who first announced their unwillingness to take the field against Valery Karpin's wards in connection with the Russian special operation in Ukraine.

“We would rather beat your team on the field.

But under the circumstances, this was the only possible decision that FIFA could make," the organization's press service told TASS.

In turn, Sweden was dissatisfied with the fact that FIFA did not look for a replacement for Russia in the play-off.

Thus, according to the Secretary General of the SvFF, Håkan Sjöstrand, the Poles gained an advantage.

“Our position was clear, we told FIFA how we see the upcoming playoffs.

We believe that from a sporting point of view, it would be reasonable and fairer to give Poland a new opponent in the semi-finals.

We understand that for FIFA it would be a difficult puzzle, but all teams should have the same conditions, that is, a game and a victory in two matches, ”the SvFF press service quoted the official as saying.

At the same time, the head coach of the Swedish national team Janne Andersson noted that his team will try to win, even despite the advantage that Poland received.

“All our efforts are focused on preparing for the match against the Czech Republic.

We want to go to the World Cup and we will do everything to get there, ”said the specialist.

The Czech Football Federation was the most neutral.

FACR chairman Petr Fousek said he was ready for such a decision by FIFA.

“This is the most likely of all options.

Now we can fully focus on the opening match in Sweden.

We take it as a fact that Poland will go directly to the final: if we want to play in the World Cup, we just have to deal with two opponents.

So the situation has not changed for us, ”the press service of the organization quoted the official as saying.

In addition, the coach of the Czech national team Yaroslav Shilgavy admitted that the team has long begun to analyze the game of the Poles.  

In Russia they believe in CAS

Meanwhile, Russian experts do not lose hope to challenge the FIFA decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In Lausanne, they confirmed that they had registered the RFU's appeal against the suspension of national teams and clubs from participation in international competitions.

True, according to the honorary president of the RFU Vyacheslav Koloskov, the proceedings may drag on for a long time.

“Our protest at CAS has nothing to do with the FIFA decision - these are parallel structures.

It is not known when CAS will consider our protest.

This may take a week or two months.

I would like this decision to change.

There are no legal grounds for our suspension - this is pure politics.

If CAS will be guided by the position of FIFA and UEFA, then he will not find any grounds for our suspension.

Do I accept that the decision may change?

I believe in it, ”the specialist admitted in an interview with Sport-Express.

Sports lawyer Yevgeny Morozov, in turn, noted: if CAS satisfies the appeal of the RFU after the play-offs, their results will be annulled.

“The decision of FIFA today, taking into account the fact that the RFU filed a complaint with the Lausanne court, has not yet legally entered into force.

It will not take effect until the appeal is granted or denied by CAS.

If the court says that the FIFA decision is illegitimate and satisfies the appeal of the RFU, and before the decision is made, some matches will be played, respectively, they will be subject to cancellation, ”said the Gazeta.Ru specialist.

As for the chances of the RFU to win the case in court, according to sports lawyer Anna Antseliovich, they are always 50/50.

“These are the arbitrators who, from their subjective perceptions, make a decision.

It is impossible to say unequivocally how certain judges will perceive the arguments of different parties.

Legally, this decision looks at least strange.

It does not comply with FIFA regulations.

But, for example, in figure skating, CAS, on the principle of justice, departed from the letter of the regulations, because the code was wrong.

However, I believe the political context may influence the decision,” Anceliovich said.

At the same time, the former defender of the Russian national team, Dmitry Sennikov, drew attention to the fact that if the court turns out to be on the side of the RFU, then the team of Valery Karpin will automatically go to Qatar, since Sweden, the Czech Republic and Poland do not want to play with it and are ready for technical defeat.

“In this situation, it is difficult to say how CAS will decide when everyone is against playing.

It turns out that we are simply already in Qatar at the World Cup, if all the participants in our bracket are against matches.

How will CAS look at it.

Probably, there is no reason to exclude our team according to the rules, but we will see what they say.

I think that there are not so many chances, although at the Olympics the court ruled in favor of figure skater Kamila Valieva, ”said the former footballer.