The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has stripped Russia of the 2021/2022 UEFA Men’s Champions League final hosting right.
This was announced on Friday after the extraordinary meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee held in reaction to the escalation of the security situation in Europe which has Russia invading Ukraine.
On Thursday, there were indications that Russia might lose the hosting rights due to its recent attack on Ukraine. In a statement on its website on Friday, UEFA confirmed that the final, which was earlier scheduled to hold at Saint Petersburg, will now be played in France on Saturday, May 28, 2022.
The statement read in part, “UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to 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.
“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.”
