UEFA HAS CONFIRMED that this season’s Champions League Final will no longer take place in St Petersburg, with the game switched to the Stade de France.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine yesterday forced European football’s governing body to start drawing up contingency plans on Thursday for the showpiece event on 28 May.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin called an extraordinary meeting this morning where it was decided that the 68,000-capacity Gazprom Arena will be stripped of its right to host the final due to Russia’s attacks.
A Uefa statement confirmed: “The Uefa Executive Committee today held an extraordinary meeting following the grave escalation of the security situation in Europe.
“The Uefa Executive Committee decided to relocate the final of the 2021/22 Uefa Men’s Champions League from Saint Petersburg to Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday 28 May at 8pm.”
UEFA shares the international community’s significant concern for the security situation developing in Europe and strongly condemns the ongoing Russian military invasion in Ukraine.
— UEFA (@UEFA) February 24, 2022
Full statement: ⬇️
The governing body of European football added: “Uefa shares the international community’s significant concern for the security situation developing in Europe and strongly condemns the ongoing Russian military invasion in Ukraine.
“As the governing body of European football, Uefa is working tirelessly to develop and promote football according to common European values such as peace and respect for human rights, in the spirit of the Olympic Charter.
“We remain resolute in our solidarity with the football community in Ukraine and stand ready to extend our hand to the Ukrainian people.”
After changing the venue for the final of the 2020 and 2021 editions due to the coronavirus pandemic, Uefa had no qualms about a further switch.
Holders Chelsea, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are all in the last 16 of the Champions League.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this week told the House of Commons Russia should have “no chance of holding football tournaments”.
Meanwhile, British Labour MP and former minister Chris Bryant has questioned Abramovich’s continued ownership of Chelsea after citing a leaked Home Office document from 2019 suggesting he was “of interest to HMG due to his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices”.
Speaking at business questions, Mr Bryant said: “Surely Mr Abramovich should no longer be able to own a football club in this country? Surely we should be looking at seizing some of his assets including his €152 million home?
“And making sure that other people who have had Tier 1 Visas like this are not engaged in malign activity?”
Meanwhile, the Ukraine Premier League was set to end its winter break on Saturday but a suspension of the division has occurred following Russia’s attack.
