UEFA initially picked Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg, Russia as the venue of the 2022 UCL final but moved it to France after the invasion of Ukraine
By Kehinde Okeowo
Russia said it has accepted UEFA’s decision to move the final of this year’s Champions League from St Petersburg to Paris in France but expressed regret that such a decision was taken.
The final was initially scheduled to be played at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on May 28.
But following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the city will no longer host the prestigious event.
Stade de France in Paris, France has now been announced as the new venue for the biggest European club competition final.
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Russia through the Press Secretary to the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov has however said Russia will respect UEFA’s decision.
He said, “It’s a pity, of course, that such a decision was made. But [the decision] has been made, so it is accepted.”
When pressed on whether he considered the decision to be politically motivated, the spokesman replied: “No, I didn’t say that. I just expressed regret.”
Meanwhile, FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino while calling for the cessation of the Ukraine conflict on Thursday confirmed that Russia’s game against Poland next month is being reviewed as “a matter of urgency.”
Russia is expected to host a 2022 World Cup play-off with Poland on March 24 and if victorious another on March 29 against the winners of the Czech Republic and Sweden, but the visiting federations have demanded the matches be moved.
After considering the requests of the football federations, FIFA and it’s European affiliate, UEFA have now decided that Russian and Ukrainian national teams are now required to play at neutral venues.
