The world of sport launched its battery of sanctions against Russia on Friday, the day after the attack by the Russian army on Ukraine: UEFA withdrew from Saint Petersburg the organization of the Champions League final, on May 28, and Formula 1 canceled the Russian Grand Prix scheduled for September.
Just over 24 hours after the Russian attack on Ukrainian territory, the UEFA urgently met its executive committee this Friday by videoconference from Nyon to give a response to the situation.
Initially scheduled for Saint Petersburg on May 28 (20:00 GMT), UEFA decided to move the final of its flagship tournament to Paris, to the Stade de France.
Almost immediately, the Kremlin considered the decision of the European confederation “a pity”. “Saint Petersburg would have offered the ideal conditions for the celebration of such a football festival”stated his spokesman Dimitri Peskov.
The president of the Russian Football Federation, Alexander Diukov, considered for his part that UEFA’s decision responds to “political reasons”.
Later, it was French President Emmanuel Macron who “welcomed” UEFA’s “mobilization (…) to contribute to the solidarity actions towards athletes and Ukrainian citizens and for coordinating with the European Union’s actions” against Russia.
Third final at the Stade de France
The Stade de France has already hosted the Champions League final in 2006, in which Barcelona defeated Arsenal, and in 2000, in which Real Madrid beat Valencia.
Playing in Paris “will be an additional motivation”, assured this Friday the Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, coach of Paris SG, although he recalled that until reaching the final “there is still a long way to go”, starting with defending on March 9 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium the 1-0 against Real Madrid achieved in the first leg of the round of 16.
The other three finals of the top European club tournament organized in the French capital were played at the Parc des Princes (1956, 1975 and 1981).
It’s a statement, “UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, for his personal support and commitment to bringing the most prestigious match in European club football to France at a time of unprecedented crisis.”
“Together with the French government, UEFA will fully support the efforts of multiple stakeholders to ensure bailout provision for football players and their families in Ukraine, who are facing terrible human suffering, destruction and displacement.”
UEFA, which on Thursday “firmly condemned the Russian invasion”, also decided that all matches in which Russian and Ukrainian teams play at home will be played on neutral ground “until further notice” in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army.
This decision affects above all the game of Spartak Moscow in the Europa League, but not the playoff for the 2022 World Cup between Russia and Poland scheduled for March 24 in Moscow, a match that depends on FIFA.
The Polish, Czech and Swedish federations (the last two countries must also play that playoff), already stated on Thursday that they did not want to have to travel to Russia.
For now, FIFA has not made any decision, although on Thursday its president Gianni Infantino He said he was “concerned” about the “tragic and disturbing” situation who lives in the region.
On the other hand, UEFA makes no reference to its relations with Gazprom, the Russian energy giant that is one of the biggest sponsors of the European football confederation and reputed to be close to the Russian regime.
The German Schalke, also sponsored by Gazprom, announced on Thursday that it was removing the company’s name from its shirts. and this Friday it was Manchester United who announced that it is breaking its collaboration agreement with the Russian airline Aeroflot.
These announcements come at a time when there is a great mobilization of world sport against the Russian invasion.
No Formula 1 in Sochi
The promoter of the Formula 1 World Championship announced for its part the cancellation of the Russian Grand Prix, scheduled for September at the Sochi circuit.
“Is impossible to organize the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances“, Formula One explained in a statement, after meeting with all affected parties.
Drivers like Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel were already opposed to running in Sochi on Thursday.
The situation is also uncertain for the Russian driver Nikita Mazepin within the Haas team, which this Friday already carried out the pre-season tests in Montmeló with white single-seaters, without the colors blue, red and white, which coincide with those of the Russian flag, for having Uralkali as a sponsor, a Russian company specializing in potash and whose leader is Dimitri Mazepin, the pilot’s father.
Atalanta’s Ukrainian international striker Ruslan Malinovskyi wore a T-shirt with the message (in English) ‘Stop War’ after scoring a goal in the Europa League.
The Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev, who next Monday will be number 1 in the world ranking, declared for his part that “tennis at the moment is not so important” after playing his match at the Mexican Tennis Open and admitted waking up “with a lot of emotions.”
Spaniard Rafael Nadal wished for his part that the conflict “be finished as soon as possible.”
And the International Ski Federation (FIS) announced this Friday the cancellation of all its planned competitions in Russia until the end of the season.
The world of sport launched its battery of sanctions against Russia on Friday, the day after the attack by the Russian army on Ukraine: UEFA withdrew from Saint Petersburg the organization of the Champions League final, on May 28, and Formula 1 canceled the Russian Grand Prix scheduled for September.
Just over 24 hours after the Russian attack on Ukrainian territory, the UEFA urgently met its executive committee this Friday by videoconference from Nyon to give a response to the situation.
Initially scheduled for Saint Petersburg on May 28 (20:00 GMT), UEFA decided to move the final of its flagship tournament to Paris, to the Stade de France.
Almost immediately, the Kremlin considered the decision of the European confederation “a pity”. “Saint Petersburg would have offered the ideal conditions for the celebration of such a football festival”stated his spokesman Dimitri Peskov.
The president of the Russian Football Federation, Alexander Diukov, considered for his part that UEFA’s decision responds to “political reasons”.
Later, it was French President Emmanuel Macron who “welcomed” UEFA’s “mobilization (…) to contribute to the solidarity actions towards athletes and Ukrainian citizens and for coordinating with the European Union’s actions” against Russia.
Third final at the Stade de France
The Stade de France has already hosted the Champions League final in 2006, in which Barcelona defeated Arsenal, and in 2000, in which Real Madrid beat Valencia.
Playing in Paris “will be an additional motivation”, assured this Friday the Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, coach of Paris SG, although he recalled that until reaching the final “there is still a long way to go”, starting with defending on March 9 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium the 1-0 against Real Madrid achieved in the first leg of the round of 16.
The other three finals of the top European club tournament organized in the French capital were played at the Parc des Princes (1956, 1975 and 1981).
It’s a statement, “UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, for his personal support and commitment to bringing the most prestigious match in European club football to France at a time of unprecedented crisis.”
“Together with the French government, UEFA will fully support the efforts of multiple stakeholders to ensure bailout provision for football players and their families in Ukraine, who are facing terrible human suffering, destruction and displacement.”
UEFA, which on Thursday “firmly condemned the Russian invasion”, also decided that all matches in which Russian and Ukrainian teams play at home will be played on neutral ground “until further notice” in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army.
This decision affects above all the game of Spartak Moscow in the Europa League, but not the playoff for the 2022 World Cup between Russia and Poland scheduled for March 24 in Moscow, a match that depends on FIFA.
The Polish, Czech and Swedish federations (the last two countries must also play that playoff), already stated on Thursday that they did not want to have to travel to Russia.
For now, FIFA has not made any decision, although on Thursday its president Gianni Infantino He said he was “concerned” about the “tragic and disturbing” situation who lives in the region.
On the other hand, UEFA makes no reference to its relations with Gazprom, the Russian energy giant that is one of the biggest sponsors of the European football confederation and reputed to be close to the Russian regime.
The German Schalke, also sponsored by Gazprom, announced on Thursday that it was removing the company’s name from its shirts. and this Friday it was Manchester United who announced that it is breaking its collaboration agreement with the Russian airline Aeroflot.
These announcements come at a time when there is a great mobilization of world sport against the Russian invasion.
No Formula 1 in Sochi
The promoter of the Formula 1 World Championship announced for its part the cancellation of the Russian Grand Prix, scheduled for September at the Sochi circuit.
“Is impossible to organize the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances“, Formula One explained in a statement, after meeting with all affected parties.
Drivers like Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel were already opposed to running in Sochi on Thursday.
The situation is also uncertain for the Russian driver Nikita Mazepin within the Haas team, which this Friday already carried out the pre-season tests in Montmeló with white single-seaters, without the colors blue, red and white, which coincide with those of the Russian flag, for having Uralkali as a sponsor, a Russian company specializing in potash and whose leader is Dimitri Mazepin, the pilot’s father.
Atalanta’s Ukrainian international striker Ruslan Malinovskyi wore a T-shirt with the message (in English) ‘Stop War’ after scoring a goal in the Europa League.
The Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev, who next Monday will be number 1 in the world ranking, declared for his part that “tennis at the moment is not so important” after playing his match at the Mexican Tennis Open and admitted waking up “with a lot of emotions.”
Spaniard Rafael Nadal wished for his part that the conflict “be finished as soon as possible.”
And the International Ski Federation (FIS) announced this Friday the cancellation of all its planned competitions in Russia until the end of the season.
;
