Sadiq Khan
(Picture: PA)London “stands ready” to host the Champions League final instead of St Petersburg after the Russian military action in Ukraine, Sadiq Khan said on Tuesday.
The Mayor of London intervened in the row over the hosting of the match as calls grew for its Russia to lose the right after Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine.
Mr Khan told LBC Radio: “London stands ready to host the Champions League final.
“Hosting the Champions League final is a privilege. The impression we would give if Uefa did have the final in St Petersburg is rewarding this sort of aggressive actions from Putin’s Russia.”
His comments came after Boris Johnson said the Champions League final should not take place in Russia.
The Prime Minister stressed that Russia would face a wave of sanctions and other retaliatory measures for its military action.
He told Parliament: “I think it inconceivable that major international football tournaments can take place in Russia after the invasion of a sovereign country.”
With St Petersburg due to host this season’s Uefa Champions League Final on May 28, 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."
