The FA has announced that England will not play Russia in any international football match “for the foreseeable future” due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
On Sunday, February 27, the Football Association issued a statement declaring that they will not play any matches against Russia in solidarity with Vladimir Putin’s soldiers in Ukraine.
This comes after FIFA was advised to take action against Russia and prevent them from competing in the forthcoming World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
‘Out of solidarity with Ukraine and to totally condemn the atrocities being committed by the Russian government, the FA can announce that we will not play against Russia in any international fixtures for the foreseeable future,’ the FA said in a statement issued on Twitter.
‘This includes any potential match at any level of senior, age group or para football.’
It comes after Poland said that it would refuse to play Russia in a World Cup play-off match.
Following suit, the football associations of Sweden and the Czech Republic announced yesterday that their teams will refuse to play Russia in whatever venue.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on Thursday, UEFA has changed the Champions League final from St Petersburg to Paris, and is now under pressure to drop Russian energy giant Gazprom as a sponsor.
Manchester United has also abandoned Aeroflot, the Russian national airline, as a sponsor.