UEFA has confirmed that the Champions League Final has been moved from St Petersburg following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.
World leaders have condemned the 'despicable' invasion which has been blasted as an 'act of war' and a 'grave violation of international rules'.
The Executive Committee have decided to relocate the final of the 2021/22 UEFA Men’s Champions League to Stade de France in Saint-Denis in the French capital of Paris.
The game will be played on the same date as it was initially scheduled on Saturday May 28 at 9pm.
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UEFA also said: "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."
Boris Johnson insisted there is “no chance” of holding football tournaments in a Russia that “invades sovereign countries”.
With St Petersburg due to host this season’s Uefa Champions League Final, the Prime Minister told MPs: “It’s absolutely vital in this critical moment that President Putin understands that what he is doing is going to be a disaster for Russia.
“And it is clear from the response of the world to what he has done already in Donbas that he is going to end up with a Russia that is poorer as a result of the sanctions that the world will implement.
“A Russia that is more isolated, a Russia that has pariah status – no chance of holding football tournaments in a Russia that invades sovereign countries.
“A Russia that is engaged in a bloody and debilitating conflict with a fellow Slav country. What an appalling result for President Putin.
“I hope that he steps back from the brink and does not conduct a full invasion.”
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has welcomed UEFA’s decision to strip St Petersburg of the Champions League final over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
She said: “I welcome Uefa’s decisive action to strip St Petersburg of staging this year’s Champions League Final.
“Russia must not be allowed to exploit sporting and cultural events on the world stage to legitimise its unprovoked, premeditated and needless attack against a sovereign democratic state.”
