March 23, (THEWILL)- Russia has been forced to cancel an international friendly match against Paraguay scheduled for Monday in Moscow. The decision comes in the wake of a horrific shooting rampage near the Russian capital on Friday, claiming the lives of at least 115 individuals.
The deadly attack, for which the Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility, took place at a concert hall in Krasnogorsk, located just outside Moscow. Gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons, leaving a trail of devastation.
Responding swiftly to the tragedy, the Russian Football Union (RFU) announced the cancellation of the friendly match against Paraguay on Saturday. The match was set to take place at the VTB Arena in Moscow, the same venue where Russia defeated Serbia 4-0 in another friendly just two days prior.
In addition to the Paraguay friendly’s cancellation, the RFU has postponed all domestic matches scheduled for this weekend as a mark of respect for the victims. The Russian Culture Ministry has also ordered the cancellation of all entertainment and mass events across the country following the attack.
While grappling with the aftermath of this senseless violence, Russia remains barred from FIFA and UEFA competitions due to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine since February 2022. As a result, the team can only participate in friendly matches for the time being.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
