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The Czech Republic’s football association on Sunday joined Poland and Sweden by announcing its refusal to play Russia in qualifying for soccer’s 2022 World Cup following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The four national teams were set to play off for one of three remaining berths from Europe for this year’s finals in Qatar. Poland football association announced Saturday that its team would not play their qualifying game, originally slated for March 24.
Sweden and the Czech Republic are also scheduled to play that day with the winner slated to play either Poland or Russia. Sweden, however, joined Poland on Saturday in refusing any game against Russia.
“It is not possible to play Russia at the present time, even at a neutral venue. The board of directors, the national team players and staff are all in agreement with this,” the Czech association said.
Following Russia’s invasion starting on Thursday, soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, said it would “monitor the situation.”
Also on Sunday, the International Judo Federation announced it had suspended Russian President Vladimir Putin’s status as an honorary president and IJF ambassador “in light of the ongoing war…in Ukraine.”
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Ukraine president vows to keep fighting Russia on 3rd day of invasion
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