This year’s Champions League final will take place in Paris instead of Saint Petersburg following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. UEFA confirmed that the Saint Denis stadium will host the last act of UEFA’s supreme club competition on Saturday 28 May at 21:00 CET.
The UEFA Executive Committee was called for an extraordinary meeting on Friday following the escalation of the security situation in Eastern Europe.
Apart from relocating the 2021-22 Champions League final from Saint Petersburg to Paris, UEFA decided that all Russian and Ukrainian club and national teams competing will be required to play 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,” UEFA said in a statement.
UEFA made no comment regarding their commercial partnership with Russian state energy giant Gazprom, the UEFA Champions League main sponsor. Gazprom pumps $45 million into UEFA’s accounts every year.
BREAKING: The #UCL final has been moved from Saint Petersburg to the Stade de France in Paris. pic.twitter.com/WXUYnPlFwT
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 25, 2022
Stade de France previously hosted two Champions League finals
2022 is the third year in a row when UEFA needs to change the address for the Champions League final. The European Football Federation had to change venues for the 2020 and 2021 editions of the final due to COVID-19.
The Stade de France in the Saint Denis suburb of Paris previously hosted the Champions League final in 2000 and 2006. The arena was also used for the World Cup final in 1998 and the European Championship final in 2016.
“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,” UEFA said on Friday.
“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,” UEFA assured.
