Russia needs another chance for 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff qualifiers, says coach

Valery Karpin pointed out that a decision to allow the Russian national football team to take part in the playoff qualifying matches for the spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup would be a triumph of justice, as well as the triumph of a common sense

If provided an ideal option, the Russian national football team may be allowed to take part in the playoff qualifying matches for the spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Head Coach Valery Karpin said in an interview with TASS.

The press service of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) announced on February 28 that the Russian national team and all professional clubs representing the country were barred from taking part in FIFA tournaments.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) stated later the same decision in regard to Russian football. Both FIFA and UEFA linked their decision to Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.

“I still hope that this will happen (the Russian national squad’s chance of playing in the tournaments),” Karpin said in an interview with TASS.

“However, it is difficult to speak now about the prerequisites. The situation changes every day. We can now hope for the better outcome only.”

Asked whether such a decision could happen with FIFA and UEFA that would allow Russia at international tournaments, Karpin replied: “It may certainly be the triumph of justice.”

“It may be a miracle or a triumph of justice, as well as the triumph of a common sense,” the head coach of the Russian national football team stated.

Alexander Dyukov, the president of the Russian Football Union (RFU), stated on March 23 that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) would consider an appeal from the Russian side either in April or in May against the FIFA and UEFA decisions.

“We may get the right for playoff matches to qualify for the [2022] World Cup. However, it’s not up to me to decide how the scenario would evolve,” Russian national football team’s chief Karpin commented to TASS.

The Russian national football team finished the qualifying group stage for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2nd place of Group H with 22 points after 10 matches, which saw the Russian squad proceeding to the playoffs, where they have another chance to qualify for the world’s largest football tournament.

2022 FIFA World Cup

In order to qualify for this year’s championship in Qatar, Russia needed to defeat two of its playoff opponents. Russia’s football team was scheduled to play against Poland in the 2022 FIFA World Cup European playoff semifinals at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. The game was slated take place on March 24. In case of the win over Poland, the Russian football team was to encounter on March 29 the winner of the match between the Czech Republic and Sweden.

Qatar is set to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup between November 21 and December 18 at eight stadiums in seven cities across the country, namely in Doha, Lusail, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Al Rayyan, Umm Salal and Madinat ash Shamal.

Qatar won the right to host the matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on December 2, 2010.

In March 2015, FIFA officially announced that the 22nd edition of FIFA’s flagship event would be played in November and December 2022, with the final match set for December 18, 2022, coinciding with – Qatar National Day. The objective, in principle, was to hold the tournament over 28 days.

TASS