FIFA and UEFA have announced that Russian clubs and the national team will be banned from participating in competitions run by the governing bodies. After Russia was stripped of the match following its invasion of Ukraine, the 2022 Champions League final will now be held in Paris.
The Russian Football Union was quick to respond, saying it will file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “We reserve the right to challenge the decision of FIFA and UEFA in accordance with international sports law,” it said.
On the 28th of May, the final of Europe’s most prestigious club tournament was scheduled to take place in St Petersburg. However, UEFA said the match would not be conducted at the Gazprom Arena after a meeting on Friday.
Instead, it will be held at the Stade de France in Paris, as agreed by the European football regulatory body.
UEFA thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for “his personal support and commitment to having European club football’s most prestigious game shifted to France at a moment of unprecedented turmoil.”
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“With the French government, UEFA will completely support multi-stakeholder initiatives to secure the provision of rescue for football players and their families in Ukraine who are facing extreme human suffering, destruction, and displacement,” it continued.
UEFA also ordered Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams to play their home matches outside of the area at the meeting on Friday.
Spartak Moscow is the only Russian club still competing in European club play this season, having advanced to the final 16 of the Europa League.
FIFA, the world governing body, said on Thursday that it was monitoring the situation in the region because Russia and Ukraine are both set to play 2022 men’s World Cup play-off matches in March.
On the other hand, on March 24, Russia will host Poland in Moscow, while Ukraine will go to Scotland on the same day.
