Scotland to face Poland in friendly at Hampden Park on March 24 after their World Cup play-off was postponed… with the SFA planning to donate £10 from every ticket sold to UNICEF’s Ukraine emergency fund
- Scotland are to face Poland at Hampden after disruption to World Cup play-offs
- Steve Clarke’s side had been due to face Ukraine in a game postponed till June
- Poland meanwhile were due to face Russia which has now been cancelled
- SFA will donate £10 from every ticket to UNICEF’s Ukraine emergency fund
The SFA last night confirmed plans to donate £10 from every ticket sold for Scotland’s forthcoming friendly with Poland to UNICEF’s Ukraine emergency fund.
Sportsmail first revealed plans for the nations to meet at Hampden after war in Ukraine caused heavy disruption to the World Cup play-offs.
Steve Clarke’s side were due to play Ukraine in a game now postponed until to June due to Russian aggression.
Steve Clarke’s side will face Poland in March after their World Cup play-off was postponed
Scotland had been due to face Ukraine before the postponement due to the war in the country
The Poles were also due to play their own semi-final the same day, but will now travel to Glasgow after FIFA threw opponents Russia out of the competition.
The Russians have since appealed that decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Last night, however, captains Andy Robertson and Robert Lewandowski leant their support behind a hastily arranged fundraising game at Hampden which could see a significant six figure sum raised for UNICEF’s UK appeal for Ukraine.
Tickets will go on sale at 1pm on Tuesday, 15 March – exclusively to Scotland Supporters Club members – before going on general sale at 1pm on Thursday, 17 March.
For every ticket sold, £10 will be donated to UNICEF UK’s emergency appeal for Ukraine, and supporters will have the opportunity to make an additional donation if they wish during the ticket purchase process, with a special donate button on the web page directing to UNICEF UK’s appeal.
A sold-out Hampden would mobilise a significant six-figure contribution for UNICEF UK’s appeal for Ukraine. Organisers will announce additional ways in which supporters can get behind the fundraising in the build-up to the match.
Scotland captain Robertson said: ‘As a father, the images of children in Ukraine has been heart-breaking to watch. I am a proud ambassador for UNICEF and when we were informed that the match against Ukraine would be postponed then working in partnership with Robert and the Polish squad to do our bit to help the situation was a no-brainer.
‘We send our love and prayers to our fellow participants across Ukraine’s football community and hope that the money raised by this match will help the tremendous efforts already made by UNICEF in Ukraine and in helping the refugee situation.’
Still awaiting an exact date in June for the postponed Ukraine play-off SFA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell urged the Tartan Army to raise a significant sum saying: ‘It goes without saying that our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine. All football-related matters pale into insignificance next to what the people of that country are experiencing.
Andy Robertson (pictured) and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski have lent their support for a game between Scotland and Poland
‘Along with the counterparts at the Polish FA, we hope to use this friendly international as our chance to show solidarity with a country and its people, while raising as much money to help them as we can in the process.’
Scotland boss Steve Clarke will name his squad for the game against Poland and a second friendly against the losers of the play-off semi-final between Wales and Austria five days later.
Newcastle’s Ryan Fraser is under consideration for his first call-up since his international future was cast into doubt in November when he trained with club Newcastle just days after pulling out of the squad for a World Cup qualifier against Moldova.
Bologna’s Aaron Hickey is another being discussed by the Scotland management team ahead of today’s announcement.
The SFA will donate £10 from each ticket to UNICEF’s Ukraine emergency fund as football continues to show its support to the country
Admitting the games have been placed in some perspective by events in eastern Europe Clarke said: ‘We’ve seen wonderful examples of individuals and groups within Scottish football rally with their own contributions towards the situation in recent weeks. With the support of UNICEF, this match is a way for all Scottish football fans to unite in solidarity and support our friends in Ukraine.
‘As many have already said, football is unimportant when you see the situation in Ukraine. I know that the Scotland supporters and the players will rally to show that the power of football can have a positive impact even during such desperate situations as the one faced in Ukraine at present.’
Scotland Supporters Club members can purchase tickets from £5 for juniors and £20 for adult members from 1pm on Tuesday.
Sales will then be opened up to the general public on Thursday with junior prices for individual matches from £5 and adult prices from £25.
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