ImageCourtesy:uefa.com
Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, UEFA has decided to shift the 2021-22 Champions League final from Saint Petersburg to Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Italy.
The UEFA Executive Committee took the decision during an urgent meeting in light of the escalation of the situation.
The statement, posted on the official website uefa.com, read:
“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 21:00 CET.
“UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to French Republic President Emmanuel Macron for his personal support and commitment to have European club football’s most prestigious game moved to France at a time of unparalleled crisis. Together with the French government, UEFA will fully support multi-stakeholder efforts to ensure the provision of rescue for football players and their families in Ukraine who face dire human suffering, destruction and displacement.
“At today’s meeting, the UEFA Executive Committee also decided that Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams competing in UEFA competitions will be required to play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice.
“The UEFA Executive Committee further determined to remain on standby to convene further extraordinary meetings, on a regular ongoing basis where required, to reassess the legal and factual situation as it evolves and adopt further decisions as necessary.”
The repercussions of Russia’s invasion is already being felt in the world of sports. At the ongoing Formula 1 testing in Barcelona, the Hass F1 team have dropped the Uralkali sponsorship branding from their trucks and cars for the final day. The future of the Russian GP in September is yet to be decided.
Moreover, the ATP on Thursday announced that its Challenger Tournament in Moscow will no longer take place next week.