Uefa is ready to abandon St Petersburg as the site of this year's Champions League final, but has yet to make a decision as Ukraine's military conflict worsens.
The final of Europe's most prestigious club championship is scheduled to take place on May 28 in Russia's second-largest city, but Uefa is under increasing pressure to change the location after Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, declared a plan to send soldiers into Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.
On Tuesday, officials, including Uefa President Alexander Ceferin, were debating the location of the match. Because of Covid, the Champions League final has been rescheduled in both of the last two seasons.
"Uefa is continually and closely monitoring the situation, and any decision would be taken in due course if necessary," the governing body stated in a statement, which had been modified to reflect the potential of relocating. "At this time, UEFA has no more remarks."
Any decision is likely to be guided by political considerations from within Europe. Ceferin has developed close relations within the EU as a result of the recent European Super League scandal and a shared trend toward a 'European Sport Model' of governance. The EU and member states began detailed replies to Russia's pronouncements on Tuesday, with the most visible step being the German government's decision to postpone approval of the Nordstream 2 gas pipeline project.
The British government has spoken out against the final being held in St Petersburg. Boris Johnson stated that "no football competitions should be held in a Russia that invades sovereign countries."
"We have severe reservations about the hosting of international athletic events in Russia, such as the Champions League final, and will discuss these with the relevant regulating organizations," a government spokesperson said. We will not allow President Putin to use international athletic and cultural events to legitimize his renewed unlawful invasion of Ukraine."
Although Russian clubs aren't a major force on the field, with only Zenit St Petersburg and Spartak Moscow left in European competition this season, the country's financial weight is substantial.
Gazprom, the Russian gas firm, is at the heart of European football and has long-standing business ties with Uefa. It stated last summer that it would expand its sponsorship agreement with Uefa to cover the European Championship, as well as the Champions and Europa Leagues. It owns the naming rights to the venue where the final will be held, the Gazprom Arena, and Nordstream 2 is entirely controlled by Gazprom.
