Bizarre Uefa rule that meant England couldn’t draw Kazakhstan in the Nations League as fans say ‘we’ve been robbed’

10 months ago 77

ENGLAND have been “robbed” of drawing Kazakhstan in their Uefa Nations League group, due to a little-known rule.

England had already been drawn with Finland and Ireland in group 2, with Kazakhstan the next name to come out of the hat.

Kazakhstan were the next team out of the hat for Group Two[/caption]

But they were drawn in Group Three instead[/caption]

But a rule that limits the distance Kazakhstan have to travel in Uefa competitions means they could not be put in a group with England and Ireland.

Prior to the draw, it was agreed that Kazakhstan could only be drawn in a group with only one of England, Ireland and Wales.

England were given Greece instead as the third team in B2.

That saw Kazakhstan put into Group three instead, alongside Austria, Norway and Slovenia.

Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) spoke of how they’d been robbed of the opportunity to travel to Kazakhstan.

One fan wrote: “We’ve been robbed of getting Kazakhstan away. I’m in hysterics.”

Another fan wrote: “Kazakhstan… The one that got away.”

A third wrote: “3 new country ticks but its not the Kazakhstan draw I wanted..”

While a fourth travelling England fan said: “Sadly no Kazakhstan away for us.”

As replacements go, Greece isn’t a bad replacement, however.

Fans will be travelling to Athens, where the team play in the Olympic Stadium.

England have played Kazakhstan twice before in their history after being drawn in the same qualification group as them for the 2010 World Cup.

England won the fixture at Wembley 5-1 in 2008 before thrashing them 4-0 in the away tie.