Saint Petersburg has been stripped of the Champions League final in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
UEFA confirmed European club football’s showpiece occasion on Saturday, May 28 will be moved to Paris from the Gazprom Arena in the Russian city after an emergency meeting of its executive committee was convened this morning.
Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday with troops attacking the country from the north, east and south, inflicting enormous damage to military installations and civilian casualties.
Four Premier League clubs remain in the competition at the last-16 stage with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City taking leads into next month’s second leg ties and Manchester United level with Atletico Madrid.
Paris’ Stade de France, which last held the Champions League final 16 years ago when Barcelona beat Arsenal, will now play host to the European showpiece at the end of the football season.
Sportsmail reported on Thursday that West Ham’s owners would have been interested in staging the final at their 62,500-capacity home.
BREAKING: The #UCL final has been moved from Saint Petersburg to the Stade de France in Paris. #Russia #Ukraine #International #war pic.twitter.com/NuklVdltvT
— TUBEAfriQ Television (@tubeafriqonline) February 25, 2022