Following the war in Ukraine, UEFA held an extraordinary meeting this morning. The agenda included the venue for the Champions League final on May 28.
Saint Petersburg in Russia will be the host city for this year’s final, but UEFA has come under heavy pressure in recent days to allow the final to be held elsewhere. The knot is now cut. The final was moved to the Stade de France in Paris.
The first division final was also played there in 2006 (Arsenal – Barcelona, 1-2) and 2000 (Real Madrid – Valencia, 3-0).
The Kremlin quickly replied: “It is a shame that such a decision has been made. Saint Petersburg was ideal for hosting a football party.”
Regarding the special agreement, it was also decided that the teams of Russia and Ukraine will play their matches at a neutral stadium. National teams also have to finish their matches elsewhere.
In the European League, for example, Spartak Moscow. This decision is valid “until further notice”.
Furthermore, UEFA promises all support to professional footballers and their families in Ukraine who wish to leave the country. And the Brazilian players of Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev issued, on Thursday, another video message requesting assistance for the evacuation.
The Russian Football Federation (RFU) has announced that it does not agree with UEFA’s decision to move the Champions League final to Paris. The final was supposed to take place in Saint Petersburg on May 28, but due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, UEFA decided to remove the match from Russia.
“We believe that the decision was motivated by political motives. The Russian Federation has always adhered to the principle of sports outside politics and therefore cannot support this decision,” federation president Alexander Dyukov said.
The Russian Football Federation also says it does not agree that Russian sports teams are now forced to play matches on neutral ground instead of in their country. “This is against the principle of sport and a violation of the interests of players, coaches and fans,” he added.
Several major sports have already canceled matches in or against Russia due to the country’s raid on neighboring Ukraine earlier this week.
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