France calls for Russia to be expelled from 2022 FIFA World Cup

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) – Reigning champions France have called for Russia to be expelled from the 2022 FIFA World Cup for its intervention in Ukraine.

“The world of sport, and especially football, cannot remain neutral. I certainly would not oppose the expulsion of Russia,” Noel Le Graet, head of the French Football Federation, told French daily Le Parisien on Sunday.

“In these dramatic circumstances, how can one envisage playing football against this country,” he added.

Several countries have recently voiced opposition to playing against Russia in the World Cup qualifiers.

The Czech Republic said on Sunday it will not play Russia in the World Cup qualifiers.

A statement by the Czech Football Association said its “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 a neutral venue.”

Earlier this week, football associations of the Czech Republic, Poland and Sweden said they were not willing to travel to Russia for matches scheduled for March 24 and March 29, as the military escalation between Moscow and Kyiv “entails serious consequences and considerably lower safety for our national football teams and official delegations.”

World football governing body FIFA responded by saying it will “continue to monitor the situation” and give updates “in due course.”

“FIFA condemns the use of force by Russia in Ukraine and any type of violence to resolve conflicts. Violence is never a solution and FIFA calls on all parties to restore peace through constructive dialogue,” read the statement issued this past Thursday.

Russia has also been stripped of the Champions League final in St. Petersburg, with Europe’s top football body UEFA moving the May 28 fixture to Paris.​​​​​​​