Champions League Final Moved To Paris From St Petersburg After Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Champions League final to be played at the Stade de France in Paris on May 28; UEFA strips St Petersburg of its right to stage match after the Russian invasion of Ukraine; Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams competing in UEFA competitions to play home matches at neutral venues.

UEFA has moved the Champions League final on May 28 to Paris from St Petersburg, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The UEFA executive committee held an emergency meeting on Friday and decided to move the showpiece to the Stade de France from the 68,000-capacity Gazprom Arena in Vladimir Putin's home city.

Following UEFA's move, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call: "It's a shame that such a decision has been made.

"St Petersburg could have provided all favourable conditions to hold this festival of soccer."

The executive committee also decided 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.

This is set to affect Spartak Moscow in the Europa League and also Russia and Ukraine in the 2022-23 Nations League which is due to get under way in June.