Leipzig (dpa) – Bundesliga soccer club RB Leipzig expects the cancellation of the Europa League round of 16 game against Spartak Moscow by the European association UEFA in the near future. According to dpa information, there have been corresponding consultations for days after Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.
“We are still in close contact with the associations and have complete confidence in UEFA and their decision. We assume that the games will be canceled,” said RB CEO Oliver Mintzlaff when asked by dpa. According to the relevant UEFA regulations, RB would then move into the quarter-finals without a fight.
UEFA did not initially confirm an impending cancellation. A decision by the executive committee had not yet been made, it said when asked by the dpa.
The Saxons were drawn against Spartak Moscow on February 25. After that, Leipzig would have home rights on March 10th, the second leg should be played on March 17th on neutral ground. In the meantime, a trip from Spartak to Leipzig is difficult for logistical reasons because of the blocking of European airspace for Russian aircraft.
RB coach Domenico Tedesco had recently seen a one-sided Leipzig boycott of the game critically. “When the question of a boycott comes up: In my opinion, it always affects the wrong people. It primarily affects the athletes and the fans. I would have liked a different framework for this game. The current situation is bad. For me it is There was no solution in any situation,” said Tedesco after the 1-0 win at VfL Bochum. Tedesco was Spartak Moscow coach until May 2021.