Will the Champions League final be relocated for the third time in a row? After two years in which Covid-19 forced the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to choose a new host city to host the final match of the competition it organizes, the situation in Ukraine could lead the body to change venue for the final of the 2021-2022 edition.
This should theoretically take place on Saturday, May 28, in Saint Petersburg, the birthplace of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. However, the announcement of the recognition by Russia, Monday, February 21, of the independence of the two pro-Russian separatist territories in eastern Ukraine – the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk – has caused a crisis situation .
While the European Union implemented gradual sanctions against the country on Tuesday following Mr. Putin’s offensive in Ukraine, several voices called for depriving Russia of the organization of sports competitions. “There is no chance of organizing football tournaments in a Russia that invades sovereign countries”declared the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, on Tuesday, February 22, before Parliament.
“It is absolutely vital at this critical time that President Putin understands that what he is doing will be a disaster for Russia”, added the resident of 10 Downing Street, who, in parallel, announced sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss added on Wednesday that any English club that made it to the final would have to boycott the final if it were to be held in St Petersburg. Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk has also proposed moving the Champions League final, as well as the volleyball world championship, which begins at the end of August. “Sport is a very important vector of social emotions”, he assured on Tuesday on the Polish pro-government news site wPolityce :
” And if we sanctioned sport, it would be noticeable and, above all, felt by Russian society. This should be the role of sanctions. »
Contacted by The worldUEFA assures “monitor the situation closely”. And if, in England, some are talking about a possible final at Wembley Stadium in London, the body responds that “Any decision regarding the Champions League final will be taken in due course, if necessary.”
Strong financial ties with the Russian group Gazprom
Changing the location of the final is not insurmountable. Over the past two years, the final meeting of the queen competition in Europe has been relocated: to Lisbon in 2020, then to Porto in 2021, instead of Istanbul.
These changes, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, had been made by the body governing European football, sometimes at the last minute: in 2021, it had opted for Portugal a fortnight before the final, the country having lifted its restrictions toilets, which made it possible to have a stadium full of spectators, who came to watch Chelsea’s victory against Manchester City.
In addition to the question of the venue for the Champions League final, UEFA is also under pressure because of the strong financial ties it has established with Gazprom. Tuesday evening in London, a few kilometers from the British Parliament where Boris Johnson had spoken, the many screens of the Stamford Bridge stadium were thus illuminated in the colors of the Russian gas giant, when the Chelsea striker, Christian Pulisic, registered the second goal of his in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, against Lille.
The group, majority controlled by the Russian authorities, had been presented as “one of our most reliable partners” by UEFA
A major sponsor of UEFA since 2012, Gazprom renewed its partnership with the Champions League in May 2021, even extending it to the next two continental competitions, the League of Nations and the European Championship. The group, majority controlled by the Russian authorities, had been presented, on this occasion, as ” Mon [des] most reliable partners » of UEFA. The links go beyond “simple” marketing contracts. Alexander Dioukov, the boss of the oil branch of the Russian energy giant, who is also the president of the Russian Football Federation, is for example a member of the executive committee of UEFA.
It will be much more difficult for UEFA to get rid of this partner – which brings in almost 40 million euros a year, according to SportBusiness Sponsorship estimates – than to abandon the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg for the final. .
Concerning its partnership with Gazprom, the European body responds, here too, that it “follow the situation closely”adding that she has no “no further comment to make on this subject at this time”.
But several Champions League broadcasters – including Britain’s BT Sport – have, according to a person familiar with the industry, demanded a clear line on running ads for Gazprom on the sidelines of matches. Including the round of 16 first leg, which continues Wednesday evening.
