SWEDEN SAID ON Wednesday it believed its team could be at a disadvantage after Fifa confirmed that Russia would be kicked out of the 2022 World Cup playoffs over the invasion of Ukraine.
World football’s governing body said on Tuesday that Poland, who Russia were due to face in the playoff semi-final this month, would be given a bye into one of the European playoff finals.
Poland will face the winners of the match between Sweden and the Czech Republic for a place in the finals in Qatar.
The playoff final will take place on 29 March, five days after the Swedes and Czechs play each other, potentially giving an advantage to the Poles who will be well-rested.
The head of the Swedish football federation, Hakan Sjostrand, said he would have preferred it if Fifa had found a new opponent for Poland in place of Russia.
“The most reasonable and fair thing, on a sporting level, would have been that Poland have a new opponent in the semi-final,” Sjostrand said.
“We understand that it is a difficult situation to resolve for Fifa but nevertheless the principle of playing in the same conditions, in other words playing two competitive matches to reach the final phase of the World Cup, should apply.”
Sweden coach Janne Andersson said that Fifa had taken the right decision to kick Russia out of the playoffs.
But he described the decision to give Poland free passage to the final as “completely mad from a sporting point of view”.
“Having said that, we will focus entirely on the preparation for the match against the Czech Republic. We want to go to the World Cup and we will do everything to achieve that.”
Fifa also confirmed that Ukraine’s playoff match against Scotland would be postponed until June following a request from the Ukrainian federation.
Russia, which hosted the 2018 World Cup, on Tuesday lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against its suspension from all international competitions “until further notice” by Fifa and Uefa.
The World Cup finals take place from 21 November to 18 December.
So its wrong 2% of the time. As oppose to the 17% before. Worth it.
The reluctance to flag for offside because of VAR is annoying too. Joel Matip gave away a corner against Arsenal because he blocked a shot from a clearly offside Aubameyang. Same happened when Adrian made a save from an offside player against Burnley.
@Gary: it’s not a reluctance, the actual rule has changed so the AR now must wait to flag. This is just one of the many rules that have had to be changed to accommodate VAR; others include the handball rule and rules relating to the taking and officiating of penalties. There will be more changes to the rules in order to accommodate VAR, which is such a shame as it is slowly ruining football for me.
@JoeO: The offside rule is still the exact same, it’s just that assistant referees know if their decision is wrong they can go back to it after the play finishes rather than stopping an attack then being proven wrong by VAR and having no idea how to restart.
The technology exists to put a chip in the ball and monitor where it is on the pitch at all times. Easily done.
@Mick O’Shea: That is already done no? The goal line technology used the past three years.
The new handball rule is there to justify VAR and nothing else, is absolutely rediculous, nonsensical and cannot last. It is driving viewers round the bend.
@Sheila Teehan: if that’s the case, how does the new rule justify VAR?
I feel that the new handball rule is causing a lot of anger and VAR is the scapegoat. It’s dodgy now but it’ll be fine in a year
Lot of experts on here.