KENNY DALGLISH has called on FIFA to take the pressure off Ukraine and offer the war-torn country a bye into the World Cup in 2026.
Plans are still being drawn up for Scotland’s World Cup play-off semi-final fixture against Ukraine after the initial match was moved due to the conflict with Russia.
But record Scotland cap holder Dalglish reckons football authorities should step in and guarantee a spot in the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico for Ukraine to resolve the fixture issue.
The Celtic and Liverpool legend is hopeful Scotland can make it to the Qatar finals later this year, but insists it’d be unfair for any pressure to be put on Ukraine to compete in the play-offs.
“I don’t know what should be done but you’ve got to have huge respect for the Ukrainian players and the football association,” said Dalglish.
“It’s not their fault that they are in the position they are in.
“Most of the squad don’t play over there. They are playing elsewhere but they’ve still got families there that have been hugely affected by it.
“I think it’s unfair to put them under pressure in any way, shape or form.
“Maybe a wee olive branch and say, in the next World Cup you can go straight through.
“You don’t need to qualify.
“It would be a way of showing your respect for them and at the same time moving forward with this World Cup in Qatar.
“I just think it would be nice, if they want a solution, to give them that.”
The proposed solution would see Scotland advance to a play-off final against Wales for a spot in World Cup Group B alongside England, Iran and the USA.
It'd be an unprecedented move for FIFA to offer Ukraine a guaranteed spot in the finals for the next World Cup in 2026, but for Dalglish it’d be just a small token amid the Russian invasion of the nation.
He added: “And people will say: How can they get that?
"Well, if you want to get your places bombed, your parents killed and your friends killed, that’s what you need to go through to get it. I think it would be nice, if they want a solution, to give them that.”
Kenny Dalglish was promoting exclusively live Premier Sports coverage of Celtic v Rangers this Sunday from 1pm Premier Sports is available on Sky, Virgin TV and the Premier Player from £9.99 per month, and on Amazon Prime as an add-on subscription.
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