Short-term transfer conceivable
UEFA is under pressure because of the Champions League final
02/22/2022, 3:45 p.m
The invasion of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine has political consequences. In terms of sport, too, developments are hardly foreseeable at the moment. UEFA is officially sticking with St. Petersburg as the venue for this year’s Champions League final. Internally, however, there are further considerations.
Russia’s influence is huge – on the world as well as on the world of sport. President Vladimir Putin is looking to get closer to leading associations, and Russian companies are involved with sponsorships worth millions. This also includes hosting major events. This year the final of the Champions League. While politicians imposed severe sanctions after the Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine, sport is (still) struggling.
“Currently, all games should take place as planned,” said UEFA when asked by ntv.de on Monday. However, a transfer of the final, which is planned for May 28 in St. Petersburg, does not seem to be ruled out. The conflict has the highest priority at the headquarters in Nyon, reports the “Times”. At UEFA, prepare yourself for strong political pressure – and this is increasing. On Tuesday, for example, several members of the European Parliament called on UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin not to hold the Champions League final in St. Petersburg and to end sponsorship ties with Gazprom. “The days of ‘watching the situation'” are over, write the MEPs to Ceferin. “UEFA must act now.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also called on UEFA to postpone the Champions League final. “No chance of holding football tournaments in a Russia invading sovereign states,” Johnson said in Parliament in London. “At this critical moment, it is absolutely critical that President (Vladimir) Putin understands that what he is doing spells disaster for Russia.”
“For sanctions against Russia to be effective, they must hurt Russia above all,” said Philipp Hartewig, sports policy spokesman for the FDP, the sports information service. Using football as an example, he “also clearly” sees UEFA and its President Ceferin as “responsible”. Sabine Poschmann, sports policy spokeswoman for the SPD, also considers a Champions League final to be “unthinkable. UEFA is called upon to relocate the final to another country.” If Russia “willfully breaks international law,” Hartewig added, “Russia will have to live with the consequences.”
Are semi-finals awaited?
Discussions are also in full swing abroad. In Great Britain, for example, Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat spoke of a “shameful decision with regard to the premier class final. UEFA should not offer protection to a violent dictatorship,” he wrote on Twitter. Tracey Crouch, Britain’s former sport secretary, told Politics Home: “Uefa should urgently reconsider the decision to host the Champions League final in Russia following Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine.”
There are apparently at least considerations in UEFA to change the final location for the Champions League. According to the “Times”, some executives of the association consider it possible that the fans of the clubs involved in the final will be banned from traveling to Russia by their countries. It is possible that UEFA will wait for the semi-finals to then choose a venue that is favorable for both finalists.
A look back shows that short-term shifts are quite possible. Last year, the final was moved from Istanbul to Porto, and in 2020 UEFA organized a final tournament in Lisbon due to the corona pandemic. On Tuesday, UEFA held renewed talks about how to proceed, but the ties to Russia are close – the economic dependency is huge.
Closely linked to Gazprom
Not only UEFA has maintained a lucrative partnership with the Russian state-owned company Gazprom for years. The energy giant has long been one of the top sponsors in many sports – in football, for example, for the Champions League, last year’s European Championship and the Nations League. In addition, Alexander Dyukov, the CEO of the subsidiary Gazprom Neft, sits on the UEFA Executive Committee. Second division club FC Schalke 04 is also attracting attention because of the sponsorship.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on Monday. He also sent Russian soldiers to the areas – which is why the USA and the EU worked on tough sanctions on Tuesday. The federal government also stopped the mammoth project Nord Stream 2 until further notice.