Phil SumblerIt was confirmed last night that Scotland’s World Cup play off clash with Ukraine was to be postponed after Ukraine requested that Fifa moved the tie back following Russia’s invasion of the country.
The game – scheduled for Hampden Park on March 24 – is now likely to be played in June on the Nations League dates which means that any tie against the winners of Wales v Austria which was scheduled for the same date will also be delayed.
The four nations are competing for one place in this winter’s World Cup in Qatar with Wales, of course, playing to feature at their first finals since 1958.
A large contingent of recent squads selected by Ukraine have contained players from their homeland, with 15 out of the 23-man pool for November’s World Cup qualifiers playing in their home leagues.
Speaking last week, Scottish FA president Rod Petrie offered his Ukrainian counterpart support as the nations held talks with Fifa over moving this month’s tie.
“Football is inconsequential amid conflict,” said Petrie via BBC Sport.
“But we have conveyed the strong sense of solidarity communicated to us by Scotland fans and citizens in recent days.
“[The SFA] have offered to support our Ukrainian colleagues’ preparations as best we can in these unimaginably difficult circumstances.”
We now wait to hear whether the Wales v Austria game on 24 March will go ahead as planned.
