Scotland’s World Cup play-off against war-torn Ukraine POSTPONED due to Russia invasion as new date revealed
THE SFA have been given official notification that Scotland’s World Cup play-off with war-torn Ukraine has been postponed until June.
Hampden chiefs have received news of the decision in high level discussions with FIFA and UEFA.
Now football’s international top brass are scrambling to rubber-stamp a specific date – with Saturday June 4 most likely.
Should Scotland win the semi-final they’d face either Austria or Wales in the final – most likely three days later on Tuesday June 7.
Those two dates have yet to be ratified with further talks expected to take place this week.
But with Ukraine a nation under siege from Vladimir Putin’s Russian military forces it’s been rightly decided that the play-off clash planned for Hampden on March 24 will not go ahead as originally scheduled.
There is simply no way Ukraine are in any position to field a team with football irrelevant in the crisis hit country right now.
FIFA chiefs still hope they will be in a position to play in three months’ time.
Most read in Football
And UEFA are now looking at how to reschedule Nations League games Scotland and Ukraine are involved in throughout June.
Steve Clarke’s side have Hampden games against Armenia and, ironically, Ukraine – and away matches against Republic of Ireland and Armenia.
But those games will be affected with Scotland now likely to play a Nations League triple-header in September.
The SFA fully supports the decision communicated to them with president Rod Petrie and team captain Andy Robertson coming out in solidarity with Ukraine.
Robertson said: “We have to realise that there are things more important than football and this is what this is.
“People’s safety has to come first, more than anything.”
Celtic and Scotland star Greg Taylor also spoke out on the postponement ahead of it actually being confirmed, saying it would be right to call the match off.
He said: “I would fully understand if it gets postponed.
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS AND FREE BETS
“Football takes a back seat when it comes to the things we’re seeing on the news every night, with those horrible scenes in Ukraine.
“It’s so sad. You understand football is not even in the equation right now.
“Hopefully the situation can be rectified and we can get back to football.
“It would be great if it can be resolved and we welcome them to a full Hampden at some point.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page