Sports
UEFA changes Champions League's final venue in Russia after Ukraine invasion
The European soccer's governing body held an extraordinary meeting to make a decision on the Champions League final that was to be held in St. Petersburg
February 24, 2022 1:15pm
Updated: March 1, 2022 7:28am
Sporting sanctions are also included in the packet of sanctions imposed on Russia after its attack on Ukraine. The UEFA will not be hosting this season's Champions League final in the Russian city of St. Petersburg following the military operation by Vladimir Putin's government. The move came after the body convened an extraordinary meeting with its executive committee on Thursday.
The UEFA will hold another extraordinary meeting on Friday to discuss the geopolitical crisis and confirm the change of venue for the final match of its flagship championship scheduled for May 28, reported several news outlets.
"In view of the developments in the situation between Russia and Ukraine over the past 24 hours, the UEFA president has decided to convene an extraordinary meeting of the executive committee to assess the situation and take all necessary measures," the entity said in a statement.
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: ⬇️
"UEFA shares the international community's grave concern about the unfolding security situation in Europe and strongly condemns the ongoing Russian military invasion in Ukraine," posted the entity on Twitter.
On Friday, UEFA will also discuss the participation of Russian teams in its club competitions. Spartak Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg compete in the Europa League, which is playing its second leg of the playoff for the round of 16 today.
Meanwhile, in the European qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Russian national team will have to face Poland, whose Federation has refused to play the playoff on Russian territory. Sweden and the Czech Republic, possible opponents of the Russians on the way to the World Cup, also refuse to play and signed a joint letter awaiting FIFA's decision. The Ukrainian national team must play in the World Cup playoffs, where it would face Scotland next March in Glasgow.
Las Asociaciones de Futbol de Polonia 🇵🇱, Suecia 🇸🇪 y República Checa 🇨🇿 han dejado en claro su posición de NO DISPUTARSE los partidos clasificatorios a #Qatar2022 del 24 y 29 de marzo en Rusia
— Luis Omar Tapia (@LuisOmarTapia) February 24, 2022
Esperan respuesta de FIFA y UEFA, así como soluciones pic.twitter.com/bkIqlJ1kbO
The German club Schalke 04 removed Gazprom, the Russian state-owned gas company, advertising from its jersey. Gazprom is also one of the main sponsors of the Champions League.
