Finland's Football Association has decided to hold a men's national team match against Belarus in a neutral country due to the latter's involvement in the war in Ukraine, disappointing supporters.
In a decision made by the board of Finland's Football Association (Palloliitto), the men's national football team will not host Belarus in a match scheduled for September 29. Instead, the game will be relocated to a neutral country. This decision comes as a response to Belarus being required since 2022 to play its home matches in neutral venues due to its collaboration with Russia in the war against Ukraine.
Despite Belarus playing most of its recent away matches on home territory of its opponents, Palloliitto has opted for a different approach. The association has stated that it sought opinions from the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and it based its resolution on these ministries' recommendations. According to Ari Lahti, the chairman of Palloliitto, while the move isn't a direct ban, it is crucial to adhere to Finland's foreign policy stance on the matter.
The decision has sparked disappointment from the supporters' association, Suomen Maajoukkueen Kannattajat, who expressed their strong discontent over the handling of the situation. They felt excluded from the decision-making process and raised concerns over the lack of engagement in discussions regarding the future of international matches. This matter highlights ongoing tensions surrounding sports and politics, particularly in relation to countries involved in international conflicts.
