Champions League: UEFA Confirm New Venue for Final After Stripping Russia of Prestigious Match

• UEFA was previously keen to avoid a change in venue of the Champions League final, having switched venues in the past two previous editions of the competition
• But after holding an extraordinary meeting on Friday, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin decided to strip Russia of the right to host the spectacle
• While it was initially set to take place at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg, the final will instead be held at the Stade de France in Paris

Russia will not host the 2022 Champions League final as the prestigious match will now be played in France, in stunning new developments.

Europe’s most prestigious club competition was supposed to have its 2022 final in St Petersburg on May 28.

However, following a meeting on Friday, February 25, UEFA confirmed the match had been moved to Stade de France in Paris.

This is the third consecutive season the Champions League final has seen a shift in venue, with the last two editions being affected by COVID-19.

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"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." A statement from UEFA read.

Uefa also thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his continued support of European football.

In addition UEFA also announced that Russian and Ukrainian teams will have to play their matches at neutral venues.

At the moment, Spartak Moscow is the only Russian club remaining in European competitions, having reached the last 16 of the Europa League.

Zenit St Petersburg, a club believed to be Russian President Vladmir Putin’s favourite, were knocked out on Thursday, February 24, after a 0-0 draw with Real Betis ensured the Spanish club advanced 3-2 on aggregate.

Saint Petersburg's stadium is sponsored by Russian majority state-owned energy company Gazprom.

In its statement, UEFA failed to address the status of its relationship with Gazprom.

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Gazprom, is however already feeling the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine as German outfit Schalke announced on Thursday the logo of the company would be removed from the club's shirts.

Poland, Czech Republic and Sweden FA release statement

Meanwhile, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic released a joint statement saying the three nations would not play the World Cup playoffs in Russia.

Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to play 2022 men's World Cup play-off matches in March, with the Russians set to host Poland on March 24.

But the three countries on Thursday, February 24 released a statement expressing their firm stance to not play in Russia.