UEFA has moved the Champions League final to Paris after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The final was set to be played at the Gazprom Arena in the Russian city of St Petersburg on 28 May, but has been moved to the Stade de France in Paris instead.
The decision to move the football showpiece event was made at an emergency meeting of European football’s governing body today.
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European football’s governing body said: “The UEFA executive committee today held an extraordinary meeting following the grave escalation of the security situation in Europe.”
It confirmed the executive committee had decided to relocate the final to Paris. “The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday 28 May at 9pm CET,” it said.
“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.”
Key developments:
• Russian forces seize former Chernobyl nuclear power station
• Kyiv “could well be under siege” – Blinken
• PM unleashes UK’s ‘largest set of sanctions ever’ on Russia
• US sanctions announced as 7,000 troops head to Germany
• Ukrainian president: Russian attack ‘like fascist Germany in WWII’
The wreckage of an aircraft lies strewn across a residential street in Kyiv
UEFA continued: “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.”
It also said that the home games of Ukrainian and Russian club and national teams competing in UEFA competitions will be played at neutral venues “until further notice”.
The Gazprom Arena will no longer be the venue for the final
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Russia and Ukraine were also both scheduled to play World Cup play-off matches in March, but FIFA said the situation between them would be monitored.
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino recently said the governing body has “a duty to look into the footballing consequences of what is happening”.
He said: “FIFA condemns the use of force by Russia in Ukraine and any type of violence to resolve conflicts. Violence is never a solution and FIFA calls on all parties to restore peace through constructive dialogue.”