Poland to boycott World Cup play-off in Russia with Lewandowski speaking out

Poland will refuse to play Russia in their World Cup play-off match next month, their football federation have confirmed.

Robert Lewandowski and co were due to face Valeri Karpin's side in Moscow on Thursday, March 24 but have now decided to boycott.

Their decision comes after pleading for the game to be played in a different location alongside Sweden and the Czech Republic, who could subsequently face Russia in the final, although FIFA were unwilling to make a move at this stage.

Newly-elected PZPN president Cezary Kulesza said on Saturday morning: "No more words, time to act!

"Due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine, the Polish national team does not intend to play the play-off match against the republic of Russia.

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"This is the only right decision. We are in talks with the Swedish and and Czech federations to present a common position to FIFA."

Captain Lewandowski followed up by saying: "It is the right decision! I can't imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues.

"Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can't pretend that nothing is happening."

Teammates Grzegorz Krychowiak, Kamil Glik and Mateusz Klich have also joined the Bayern Munich talisman in speaking out, receiving praise from football fans in Poland.

And they were followed by Aston Villa 's Matty Cash, who won his first cap in November, echoed his new team's statement.

"We, the players of the Polish national team, together with the Polish Football Association, decided that as a result of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, we do not intend to play in the play-off match against Russia," it read.

"It is not an easy decision, but there are more important things in life than football. Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian nation and our friend from the national team, Tomasz Kedziora, who is still in Kiev with his family."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said at a press conference on Thursday: "We will look into it as a matter of urgency. The first match is one month from now.

"We hope this whole situation will be solved before then - well before then, as soon as possible, and we want to strongly believe in that."

Infantino added: "FIFA express hope for a rapid cessation of hostilities and for peace in Ukraine.

"We condemn the use of force by Russia in Ukraine and any type of violence. Violence is never the solution. We call on all parties to restore peace through constructive dialogue.

"Of course, FIFA continues to express solidarity to the people affected by this conflict."