PRAGUE: The Czech Republic has joined Poland and Sweden in refusing to play Russia at all in next month’s World Cup qualifying playoffs because of the war in Ukraine.

Russia are scheduled to host Poland on March 24 with the winners playing home to Sweden or the Czechs on March 29 for a place at the World Cup in Qatar.

On Saturday the Polish and Swedish federations upgraded their initial refusals to play in Russia by telling world governing body FIFA that they objected to playing the Russians anywhere.

The Czech association’s executive committee said it “unanimously approved a decision that the Czech national team will not in any case play Russia.”

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The executive committee asked Czech soccer federation head Petr Fousek to lead negotiations with UEFA and FIFA about the Czech position.

“The Czech FA executive committee, staff members and players of the national team agreed it’s not possible to play against the Russian national team in the current situation, not even on the neutral venue,” the federation said in a statement. “We all want the war to end as soon as possible.”

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