Warsaw [Poland]February 26 (ANI): Poland’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny on Saturday called on FIFA and UEFA to take action and hold the Russian Federation accountable for their actions.
Earlier in the day, the Polish Football Association also decided not to play its final game in the 2022 World Cup with Russia in Moscow on March 24 in the midst of the Ukraine crisis. The winners of Poland vs Russia will play against Sweden or the Czech Republic for a place in the final.
Szczesny wrote on Instagram: “My wife was born in Ukraine, Ukrainian blood is flowing through my son’s veins, part of our family is still in Ukraine, many of my workers are Ukrainian and they are all amazing people.” “Seeing the suffering on their faces and the fear of their country makes me realize that I can not stand still and pretend that nothing has happened. The moment [Vladimir] Putin decided to invade Ukraine he declared war not only on Ukraine but also on all the values โโthat Europe stands for. Freedom, independence but above all peace. “” On March 26, we would play against Russia in a play-off match for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. And even though my heart is broken as I write this, my conscience does not allow me to play.
“Representing your country is the greatest honor in a football player’s career but it’s still a choice. I refuse to play against players who choose to represent Russia’s values โโand principles! I refuse to stand on the pitch, wear my country’s colors and listen to Russia’s national anthem “I refuse to take part in a sporting event that legitimizes the actions of the Russian government.”
On Friday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s board (EB) called on all international sports federations to relocate or cancel their sporting events currently planned in Russia or Belarus.
The IOC said that they should take into account the crimes of the Russian and Belarusian governments against the Olympic ceasefire and give the safety and security of athletes an absolute priority. The IOC itself has no events planned in Russia or Belarus.
UEFA has already moved the final place of the Men’s Champions League from Russia to France and Formula 1 has canceled the Russian Grand Prix in the middle of the Ukraine crisis. (ANI)
Source: sn.dk