Georgi Dzikiya of Russia (#14) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring Russia's second goal during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Slovenia and Russia at Stadion Ljudski vrt on October 11, 2021 in Maribor, Slovenia

Photograph through Jurij Kodrun/Getty Pictures

FIFA introduced on Sunday it will permit Russia to play in the World Cup qualifying, but banned using Russia’s flag, national anthem, and title.

The staff will as a substitute play under the “RFU” acronym of its football federation, the Russian Football Union, and can handiest be authorized to play in impartial territory and without spectators, in keeping with ESPN.

In a statement, FIFA condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and stated it will proceed talk with other sports companies “to decide any further measures or sanctions, including a possible exclusion from competitions, that might be applied in the close to future will have to the placement now not be making improvements to all of a sudden.”

FIFA’s determination comes amid boycott threats from several nations, together with Poland — who is ready to play Russia in a World Cup playoff semifinal on March 24.

“As of late’s FIFA determination is completely unacceptable,” Polish football federation president Cezary Kulesza said in a tweet Sunday. “We aren’t thinking about collaborating in this game of appearances. Our stance is still intact: Polish Nationwide Staff will NOT PLAY with Russia, no matter what the identify of the crew is.”

Nowadays’s FIFA resolution is completely unacceptable. We aren’t desirous about taking part in this game of appearances. Our stance remains intact: Polish National Crew will NOT PLAY with Russia, it doesn’t matter what the title of the staff is.

— Cezary Kulesza (@Czarek_Kulesza) February 27, 2022

Poland captain Robert Lewandowski backed the choice, announcing he “can’t think about enjoying a in shape with the Russian National Workforce in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues.”

“Russian footballers and lovers are not answerable for this, but we will’t pretend that nothing is happening,” he delivered.

It is the proper determination! I will be able to’t think about playing a in shape with the Russian Nationwide Staff in a scenario when armed aggression in Ukraine continues. Russian footballers and enthusiasts usually are not answerable for this, but we are able to’t pretend that nothing is going down. https://t.co/rfnfbXzdjF

— Robert Lewandowski (@lewy_official) February 26, 2022

Different international locations that raised a imaginable boycott embody Sweden and Czech Republic — the two nations Russia may face next will have to it beat Poland in the March 24 fit.

“The Czech FA executive committee, group of workers contributors and players of the nationwide workforce agreed it’s not imaginable to play in opposition to the Russian nationwide team in the current situation, not even on the neutral venue,” the federation stated in a remark. “We all want the war to end as quickly as that you can think of.”

One by one on Sunday, England’s soccer federation said it could now not play Russia in any international video games for the foreseeable future “out of cohesion with Ukraine and to wholeheartedly condemn the atrocities being dedicated by the Russian management.”

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