FIFA’s plans for World Cup qualifying are in crisis with the football associations of Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic confirming they will not travel to Russia amid their invasion of Ukraine.
Russian troops launched attacks on the neighbouring country in the early hours of Thursday morning, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky declaring martial law.
Mr Zelensky confirmed that Russia was carrying out military strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, telling his citizens “Don’t panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will defeat everyone. Because we are Ukraine.”