The Uefa Champions League final scheduled for May 28 will no longer take place in the Russian metropolis.
(Photo: imago images/ITAR-TASS)
Dusseldorf In view of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the sports world is distancing itself from Russia and the state-owned company Gazprom. According to consistent media reports on Thursday, the European Football Union (Uefa) will withdraw this year’s Champions League final from the city of St. Petersburg.
The decision is expected to be made at the special Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Friday. The premier class final was scheduled for May 28 at Zenit St. Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena. The venue has a special meaning for the Russian President: St. Petersburg is the birthplace of Vladimir Putin.
Uefa initially left it open on Tuesday after the escalation in Ukraine. The Russian state-owned company Gazprom is one of the biggest sponsors of Uefa. Politicians have already called for the final to be postponed in the past few days. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday: “No chance of holding football tournaments in a Russia invading sovereign countries.”
According to reports, Uefa is already working on an emergency plan with regard to the final game. It is not yet known whether the new venue for the Champions League final will be announced on Friday. A move to England is currently under discussion. With the former Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and the DFB interim president Rainer Koch, two German representatives are also taking part in the special session of the committee.
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Schalke reacts to Ukraine war
Second division side FC Schalke 04 will no longer wear the lettering of their Russian main sponsor Gazprom. The club announced this on Thursday. “In view of the events, development and escalation of the past few days,” the club decided to do so, the statement said. The move follows talks with Gazprom Germania. “Instead, Schalke 04 will be on the chest of the Royal Blues,” said the club.
In the morning it was already known that the businessman Matthias Warnig, who had been sanctioned by the USA in the course of the Ukraine conflict, had resigned from the Schalke supervisory board. Warnig is the CEO of Nord Stream 2 AG, which is a Gazprom subsidiary.
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has announced that he will not take part in the Russian Grand Prix – even if it is to be held on September 25 as planned. “I feel sorry for the innocent people who are losing their lives, being killed for stupid reasons and very, very strange and insane leadership,” the 34-year-old said.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen agreed. “When a country is at war, it’s not right to race there, that’s for sure,” said the Red Bull driver.
With agency material
More: Russia starts war in Ukraine – the current developments