Zurich (dpa) – The European Football Union UEFA will decide today on the final of the Champions League in St. Petersburg, Russia.
According to information from the German Press Agency, moving to another location after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is only a matter of form. The most important and glamorous game of the year at club level in the hometown of Russian President Vladimir Putin – hard to imagine.
Who decides on the final transfer?
The 20-strong Executive Committee is holding an emergency session. The association does not need the blessing of the Congress of all 55 member associations to postpone a (final) match due to force majeure. The German Football Association is represented by the interim president Rainer Koch, the long-time CEO of FC Bayern, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, is one of two representatives of the European Club Association ECA. Russia and Ukraine each have one MP: Alexander Dyukov, CEO of Gazprom Neft, is considered a Putin confidante. Ukrainian Andri Pavelko is the president of his home association.
Where could the final be moved to?
Article 24.08 of the UEFA Champions League Competition Rules states: “The Executive Committee shall determine the date and venue of the final.” The final is planned for May 28th – the date should remain as the Nations League is due in early June. In all likelihood, the new venue has not yet been determined. The final venue in the Champions League had to be changed in the past two seasons due to the corona pandemic. The original plan is to host the final in Istanbul in 2023, in London in 2024 and in Munich in 2025. Shifts seem possible.
What other games is the Executive Committee dealing with?
Basically, the general handling of the crisis will be discussed. At the end of March, for example, there is a European Championship qualifier for the U21 juniors against France in Ukraine, and the Nations League in the summer. In Russia, capital club Spartak Moscow is in the round of 16 of the Europa League. The Ukrainian league already suspended its championship on Thursday. “Due to the imposition of martial law,” said the UAF association.
Clubs like Sorja Luhansk or the series champions Shakhtar Donetsk, which come from the areas of eastern Ukraine that have been controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, have not been training or playing in their home country for several years. The up to two World Cup playoff games scheduled for the end of March in Russia are the responsibility of the world governing body FIFA, which has not yet made a decision about a transfer.
What role does UEFA’s major sponsor Gazprom play?
The Russian state-owned company is one of the largest and therefore economically most important donors to UEFA. The close connection is also reflected in Dyukov’s seat on the Executive Committee. Gazprom has been a sponsor of the Champions League since 2012. A new contract, probably worth millions, was signed in May 2021, which also includes the national team competitions until 2024 – which could also affect the EM 2024 in Germany. Second division club FC Schalke 04, sponsored by a German Gazprom subsidiary, decided on Thursday to remove the company’s lettering from their jersey.
“In view of the war, I cannot imagine that anyone in football would want to be associated with this topic,” said DFB presidential candidate Peter Peters of the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”. During his time as Schalke’s chief financial officer, he shared responsibility for the Gelsenkirchen-based company’s Gazprom deal (since 2007). “We can’t hide behind contractual obligations or claims for damages now,” said the 59-year-old about the current situation. “Credibility and clarity is important at a time when events have occurred that none of us expected.” The stadium in St. Petersburg is officially called “Gazprom Arena”.