Poland, Sweden refuse to play World Cup qualifiers with Russia

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski praised his country's decision not to play its Russian counterpart in the qualifying play-off for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, next March, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Poland's national team captain Lewandowski tweeted: "I can't imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues."
Poland and Sweden have said that they would not play their football World Cup qualifiers against Russia in March, following Russia's attack on Ukraine.
"In light of the escalation of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team is not going to play a match against Russian Republic," Poland's Football Association chief Cezary Kulesza wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
"This is the only right decision. We're in talks with Swedish and Czech association to present a common position to FIFA."
The playoff matches are set to be held in March to fill a slot for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and several Poland players including captain Robert Lewandowski backed the decision with statements on social media.
Russia is scheduled to host Poland in the semi-finals of its strand of the World Cup playoffs on March 24 and, if its team advances, is scheduled to host either Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 in the Path B final.
The president of the Polish Football Association, Cesare Kulesza, confirmed that due to the escalation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team does not intend to play a match against Russia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Russia launched a military attack on Ukraine last Thursday, under the pretext of protecting the separatists loyal to it in the Donbas region.