Ukraine asks for World Cup playoff vs. Scotland to be postponed amid Russian invasion

Scotland is scheduled to host Ukraine in a World Cup qualifying playoff match on March 24, with the winner to face either Austria or Wales for a berth in the Qatar 2022 tournament that begins in November. 

Understandably, at least one of those contests may have to be pushed back or abandoned entirely. 

Per Sky Sports, Ukraine asked FIFA and UEFA to postpone the Scotland fixture because of the ongoing invasion by Russian military forces. Last week, the Ukrainian Premier League suspended play due to the crisis, and Paul MacInnes and Ewan Murray of The Guardian explained earlier this week that a "majority" of Ukraine's national team players remain "in their home country where they play their club football." 

FIFA responded that it "expresses its deepest solidarity to everybody affected by what is happening in Ukraine" and added that "a further update will be provided in due course," according to BBC Sport. 

Scottish Football Association president Rod Petrie suggested this week he'd accept any postponement request from the country's to-be opponents.

"Football is inconsequential amid conflict, but we have conveyed the strong sense of solidarity communicated to us by Scotland fans and citizens in recent days," Petrie wrote in a statement. 

"We remain in dialogue with UEFA and FIFA regarding our men’s FIFA World Cup playoff and women’s World Cup qualifier and have offered to support our Ukrainian colleagues' preparations as best we can in these unimaginably difficult circumstances." 

The Scotsman's David Oliver reports the qualifying matches could be delayed until June, when Ukraine is scheduled to be in Glasgow for a UEFA Nations League game against Scotland. Per Gabriele Marcotti of ESPN, the draw for the World Cup group stages is set for April 1 as of now but presumably could be postponed if necessary. 

Also on Thursday, the Russian Football Union announced it is appealing the suspension of Russian national teams and clubs handed down by UEFA and FIFA on Monday. Russia was scheduled to host Poland in a World Cup qualifying playoff on March 24 before the joint action taken by the governing bodies.