Picture Credit: UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations has decided to change the venue of the 2022 Champions League final to Paris citing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Earlier the finals were scheduled in the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin had called for an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee on Friday, at 10:00 CET to decide the move of this important event away from Saint Petersburg following the military attack on Ukraine led by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Now according to the statement issued by UEFA, the final will be played in the Stade de France in St Denis, Paris. The Statement said, “The UEFA Executive Committee decided to relocate the final of the 2021/22 UEFA Men’s Champions League from Saint Petersburg to Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
“The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday 28 May at 21:00 CET.”
“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.”
“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.”
The statement also talked about how the games between Russian and Ukrainian clubs will be played on neutral venues unit further notice. The report stated, “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.”
This will also be the first Champion’s League final hosted by France has hosted since 2006 when Spanish Champions Barcelona defeated Arsenal 2-1.