FIFA should have sent Ukraine to Qatar
Wednesday, June 1 has been confirmed as the date for Scotland’s World Cup Play-off semi-final against Ukraine.
It’s good to have that all sorted, but I just hope the Ukrainian FA didn’t feel any pressure from FIFA and UEFA to get this fixture on.
Their whole country has been hugely affected with the situation there over the past couple of months. It’s been appalling.
Football isn’t important at this time, and we all understand that.
Everybody will feel huge compassion for the people of Ukraine as they go through this war on a daily basis.
Given the tragic circumstances, I’d have thought the best solution would have been to put them straight into the World Cup Finals in November.
That, of course, was providing Ukraine were happy with that. The choice would have to be theirs to make.
Scotland could play-off against Wales for another spot, and it would then be down to FIFA to rearrange their Finals schedule to accommodate the change.
But it looks as though the play-offs are going ahead, and we should have certainty by June 5 when the winners play Wales in Cardiff for the spot in Qatar.
It will be an emotional occasion for everyone inside Hampden for the game. But for that 90 minutes, it will be about football and the World Cup.
Steve Clarke and his players will be ready and focused. They must be ready to give their all and win the game.
There is no doubt that just about everyone around the world will support Ukraine in their next few games, and that is understandable and acceptable.
But this game has been put on by the governing body, and it is a competitive match with plenty at stake.
I want Scotland to be at the Finals, and I want to see Andy Robertson lead us to victories in June.
That is purely me looking at things from a Scottish, and footballing, point of view.
However, Ukraine also has my support, and I hope peace breaks out as soon as possible, so we can all help them find some form of normality again.
Ukraine will play four friendly matches in Slovenia before they face Scotland in the World Cup play-off showdown at Hampden on June 1.
The war-torn nation have announced they will be based at the Slovenian FA’S National Training Centre near Ljubljana.
Manager, Oleksandr Petrakov, has confirmed a squad of 25 Ukrainian-based players after they were granted permission from their government to leave the country.
They will meet up at the end of this month, and their stars from foreign-based clubs will travel to Slovenia when their domestic seasons are finished.
And Petrakov has revealed they aim to play four yet-tobe-confirmed friendlies to give them such much-needed match practice ahead of their trip to Glasgow.
He said: “I would like to express my deep gratitude on behalf of the whole of football in Ukraine to our Slovenian partners for their close cooperation and support of the national team of Ukraine.
“This is the act of true friends.
“I am also very grateful to the UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin, personally for his assistance, and the opportunity to gather at a wonderful training centre near his hometown of Ljubljana.
“And of course, our government and president for allowing players from our country to leave in time of war.
“The games will be on May 2, 6, 10 and 14, and we will choose special opponents chosen for their different football styles. From May
17, the first footballers from foreign teams will join us.”