British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked the European Football Union UEFA to move the Champions League final from the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

"No way to hold football tournaments in a Russia invading sovereign states," Johnson said in Parliament in London on Tuesday.

"At this critical moment, it is absolutely critical that President (Vladimir) Putin understands that what he is doing spells disaster for Russia."

Johnson announced sanctions against five Russian banks and three Russian businessmen with close ties to Putin.

The Kremlin chief had previously recognized the self-proclaimed separatist republics in eastern Ukraine as independent states.

Russia will be poorer, more isolated and a pariah state because of the sanctions, Johnson said.

Sports Minister Nadine Dorries announced discussions.

"We will not allow President Putin to use events on the world stage to legitimize his illegal invasion of Ukraine," Dorries tweeted.

The final of Europe's premier club football competition is scheduled to take place on May 28 in St. Petersburg, the hometown of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

UEFA announced on Tuesday that there were "currently no plans to change the venue".

The situation is being closely monitored.

British foreign policy expert Tom Tugendhat sharply criticized this.

"It's a shameful decision.

UEFA should not provide cover for a violent dictatorship," the Conservative politician tweeted on Tuesday.

According to information from the German Press Agency, the association will advise again on Tuesday about how to proceed.

With regard to international matches of the Russian champions Zenit St. Petersburg, UEFA said it is in close contact with the national associations and clubs.

"It is currently planned that all games will take place as planned," it said.

Zenit meet Betis Sevilla in the Europa League second leg in Spain this Thursday.

Gazprom has been a close UEFA partner for years

Competitions are also on the brink in Ukraine, and handball games have already been moved abroad.

The European Handball Federation, for example, will not host any international games in Ukraine in the next four weeks due to the escalating situation.

Men's champions Motor Zaporozhye are to play their two home games in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain (March 1) and FC Barcelona (March 3) in a neutral hall in Presov, Slovakia.

The world volleyball association FIVB, meanwhile, is currently not thinking about depriving Russia of the 2022 men's World Cup.

"The FIVB believes that sport should always remain separate from politics, but we are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and welfare of all participants in our events, which is our top priority," the world governing body shared on Tuesday dpa request with.

At UEFA, the question of sponsor Gazprom should also arise.

The Russian energy company has been a close partner of the continental association for years and is also prominently placed in the stadiums at European championships.

This could also be the case at the next European Championships in summer 2024 in Germany.

"It's a very delicate situation that can change hourly and which we all keep in mind," said DFB interim president Rainer Koch of the ARD "Sportschau" and emphasized: "It's currently about securing world peace and dealing with it far more important than football.

UEFA will communicate any consequences for football if necessary.”

The second division club FC Schalke 04, which is sponsored by Gazprom, is meanwhile following the political situation in Eastern Europe "with great concern".

The club said in a statement from the club's management on Tuesday.

It is still open whether the club will take any consequences.

"FC Schalke 04 will monitor further developments, evaluate them and urgently appeal for peace - to protect the people affected by the crisis," it said.

The Formula 1 Grand Prix is ​​scheduled to start in the Russian Olympic city of Sochi on September 25 and will remain in Russia in 2023 – in St. Petersburg.

The main sponsor of Mick Schumacher's Haas team is the Russian mining company Uralkali.