Vladimir Putin and Russia made a bold decision on Thursday as they attacked neighbors in Ukraine by land, air, and sea. Following the brutal incident, UEFA and the Champions League have laid the hammer down.
Per ESPN, the UCL final, which was set to be held in Saint Petersburg at Krestovsky Stadium, will be moved to a different location following Russia's actions. The same venue that hosted the 2018 World Cup, it was also supposed to be the scene for the 2021 Champions League final, but that was postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, they've lost the showpiece altogether.
Russian troops invaded Kyiv and many world leaders condemned Putin's actions. UEFA had this to say about their decision to strip Saint Petersburg of the biggest game in club football:
“Following the evolution of the situation between Russia and Ukraine, the UEFA president has called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee for 10 a.m. CET [4 a.m. ET] on Friday 25 February, in order to evaluate the situation and take all necessary decisions.”
At this point, it's unknown where the Champions League final could be held. Wembley Stadium has been mentioned, while London Stadium, where West Ham plays, is also an option. Portugal has held the match in each of the last two years, so they're likely out of the mix.
The Champions League Round of 16 first legs just concluded on Wednesday.
Follow Us
Subscribe