The Champions League final has changed location, with Russia being stripped of the game that was set to be played in Saint Petersburg on May 28.
UEFA have acted after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, taking the final away from Saint Petersburg and moving it to Paris’ Stade de France on that same Saturday, May 28 date, with a kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.
In recent seasons the Champions League has had it’s final changed regularly, with each of the last two finals being played in Portugal – in Lisbon and Porto respectively – though both were due to be played in Istanbul. Istanbul will host 2023 final.
“UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to the 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,” UEFA said in a statement on Friday morning.
“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.
At today’s meeting, the UEFA Executive Committee also decided that Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams competing in UEFA competitions will be required to play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice.
“The UEFA Executive Committee further determined to remain on standby to convene further extraordinary meetings, on a regular ongoing basis where required, to reassess the legal and factual situation as it evolves and adopt further decisions as necessary.”
