BREAKING: Czech Republic refuses to play Russia in World Cup play-offs

The Czech Football Association said Sunday the national team would not play Russia in a potential 2022 World Cup play-off in March following the invasion of Ukraine.

“The Czech national team will in no case play a potential game against Russia in the World Cup play-offs,” the Czech FA said in a statement, following the same decision by Sweden and Poland.

The Czechs would have to beat Sweden away and Russia would have to beat Poland to set up a clash between the two countries on March 29.

Sweden and Poland said they would not play Russia on Saturday.

The Czechs are due to play Sweden in the first round of the play-offs in Stockholm on March 24, while Russia were due to host Poland in Moscow on the same day.

The Polish, Swedish and Czech federations had issued a statement on Thursday — the day the invasion began — demanding FIFA play the matches away from Russia.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Thursday they hoped the “situation (the conflict between Ukraine and Russia) will be resolved” by the time the matches are played.

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