The conflict between Russia and Ukraine It has shaken sport, and especially football. Saint Petersburg was the venue chosen to host the final of the Champions League on May 28, but recent events have forced UEFA to change plans. Therefore Paris will be the one that finally hosts the big event.
Just like advanced AS yesterday, three countries appeared as big favorites to receive the final. Spain, Germany, England and France were the candidates, but UEFA has ended up opting for the capital of the Gallic country. At the moment, France has the fewest clubs competing in the Champions League (PSG and Lille), so the Stade de France had a better chance of being considered a neutral venue.
Wembley was another of the names that sounded strong, but ended up being discarded because on the same dates it organizes the promotion phase from the Championship to the Premier League. In the case of the Spanish venues, their choice seemed difficult to choose as they had three teams still competing, although it seems that the initiative of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has been decisive in the election.
In the official statement sent this morning, the highest body in European football wanted to offer “its thanks and recognition to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, his personal support and his commitment so that the most prestigious match in European club football moves to France at a time of unprecedented crisis”.
More plan changes
The UEFA Executive Committee has also used its extraordinary meeting to decide what to do with the games of the Russian and Ukrainian teams. Finally, the institution chaired by Aleksander Ceferin has determined that all matches will be played at a neutral venue.
It will not be the last meeting called by the Executive Committee, which is waiting for new events, in case it is necessary to call new extraordinary meetings. As it has officially recognised: “The UEFA Executive Committee further decided to stand by to convene further extraordinary meetings, on a regular and ongoing basis where necessary, to reassess the legal and factual situation as it evolves and take further decisions as necessary.” necessary”.
Read the full statement here
The UEFA Executive Committee held an extraordinary meeting today following the serious escalation of the security situation in Europe.
The UEFA Executive Committee has decided to move the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League final from Saint Petersburg to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The match will be played, as originally planned, on Saturday 28 May at 21:00CET.
UEFA would like to express its thanks and appreciation to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, for his personal support and commitment to bringing the most prestigious match in European club football to France at a time of unprecedented crisis. Together with the French government, UEFA will fully support multi-stakeholder efforts to ensure rescue provision for football players and their families in Ukraine, who are facing horrific human suffering, destruction and displacement.
At today’s meeting, the UEFA Executive Committee has also decided that Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams competing in UEFA competitions will have to play their home games at neutral venues until further notice.
The UEFA Executive Committee further decided to stand by to convene further extraordinary meetings, on a regular and ongoing basis where necessary, to reassess the legal and factual situation as it evolves and take further decisions as necessary.