UEFA will move this year’s Champions League final from St Petersburg in the situation of Russia’s seizure of Ukraine, a source stated.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has called an exigency meeting of the Executive Committee on Friday morning and it is anticipated to concur on moving the final.
The game in European club football was all set to be organized at Zenit St Petersburg’s stadium on May 28th – an event that would have attracted thousands of fans from all across the continent.
The stadium is known as the Gazprom Stadium following a sponsorship deal with Russia’s state energy company, which also promotes UEFA’s Champions League and UEFA’s Euro 2024 national team competition.
“Following the evolution of the situation between Russia and Ukraine in the last 24 hours, the UEFA President has decided to call an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee for Friday 25 February at 10:00 CET, in order to evaluate the situation and take all necessary decisions,” UEFA stated in a statement.
“We are dealing with this situation with the utmost seriousness and urgency. Decisions will be taken by the UEFA Executive Committee and announced tomorrow,” the organization appended.
Zenit St Petersburg are operative in the Europa League on Thursday, playing in Spain versus Real Betis, and UEFA voiced that game would not be affected.
“UEFA can confirm that all tonight’s games will be played as scheduled,” the organization stated.
A group of European lawmakers cited to UEFA on Thursday, requesting it to substitute the venue and to stop considering Russian cities for international football tournaments.
The 2023 Champions League final is due to be organized in Istanbul with Wembley in London hosting the following year and Munich’s Allianz Arena the location for the final in 2025.
