Ari Lahti, President of the Finnish Football Association, will not be surprised if the International Football Association Fifa decides on actions related to Russia on a very fast schedule.
In football, various countries have reacted strongly to Russia’s start to war in Ukraine.
So far, everyone from the countries playing the same path to the World Cup qualifiers as Russia has refused to play against Russia. Russia’s first opponent was Poland, followed by Sweden and the Czech Republic. The other of the two may face Russia in the second match of possible qualifiers.
France expressed its position most strongly to the newspaper Le Parisien. Chairman of the National Football Association Noel Le Graetin believes that Russia should be completely excluded from this year’s World Cup football.
– The world of sport, and football in particular, cannot remain neutral. I would certainly not oppose Russia’s exclusion from the Games, Le Graet said.
So far, the European football federation Uefa has moved the championship league final from St. Petersburg to Paris after the Russian invasion. The International Football Association Fifa has not yet decided on the fate of Russia at the World Cup.
– The Fifa government has not yet dealt with the matter other than by clearly condemning the Russian attack at its own government meeting, which was on the same day as the attack. I would not be surprised that Fifa’s board will also make decisions on this matter very soon, President of the Finnish Football Association Ari Lahti says Sport.
Lahti is not going to judge what decision Fifa will make regarding Russia’s participation. However, he stresses that the decision must be made very quickly. The World Cup qualifiers will be played in March.
According to Lahti, the Finnish Football Association strongly condemns Russia’s actions in Ukraine. According to the Football Association, it is also completely disorganized for football matches to be held in countries at war.
– From Finland, we have been in contact mainly with the Nordic unions and in the direction of Uefa and Fifa. Of course, Russia’s attack on Ukraine is strongly condemned everywhere. It is clear that we will see different restrictions on football, Lahti says.