The emergency meeting of the UEFA executive committee, scheduled for Friday, initially did not bode well for Russia.
On Tuesday, the British media reported on the possible postponement of the Champions League final from St. Petersburg due to the aggravation of the situation around Ukraine and Russia's recognition of the independence of the DPR and LPR.
Therefore, the final decision for many experts did not come as a surprise, although the hope for a favorable outcome remained until the last.
But the UEFA Executive Committee decided to move the final of the prestigious European tournament to France.
The match will take place at the Stade de France on the previously scheduled date of 28 May.
In addition, football officials have decided to move all games of Russian and Ukrainian clubs held under the auspices of UEFA to neutral fields.
This verdict, in particular, will affect the match of the Moscow "Spartak" in the 1/8 finals of the Europa League.
According to a press release from the football organization, the decision to postpone the decisive match of the Champions League in Paris was made with the personal assistance of French President Emmanuel Macron.
“Together with the French government, UEFA will fully support the efforts of many stakeholders to secure the rescue of football players and their families in Ukraine, who are facing terrible human suffering, destruction and forced displacement,” the organization said.
Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov expressed regret over the news.
According to him, St. Petersburg was ready to provide the best and most comfortable conditions for the football festival.
And in the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation, commenting on the verdict, they emphasized that Russia had always fulfilled its obligations at the highest level to hold major international sporting events, including football ones.
“Our position remains unchanged – sport should remain outside of politics and not be a means of manipulation and infringement of anyone’s interests,” the official statement says.
The head of the RFU, Alexander Dyukov, also expressed the opinion that the postponement was dictated by political reasons.
According to him, Russia is always ready to provide all the necessary guarantees for holding international football matches with a high level of organization and security.
“The RFU has always adhered to the principle of “sports out of politics”, and thus cannot support this decision.
The RFU also does not support the decision to transfer any matches involving Russian teams to neutral territory as violating the sports principle and infringing on the interests of players, coaches and fans, ”the functionary said.
In turn, the honorary president of the RFU, Vyacheslav Koloskov, stressed that UEFA has no explanation for how the events in Ukraine interfere with the Champions League final in St. Petersburg, which means that the final verdict can be considered sanctions against Russian football.
“An expected decision for me.
Although it was adopted contrary to common sense, documents governing the conduct of competitions in Europe, and the UEFA statute.
The RFU did not violate any of the fundamental documents.
We are able to ensure safety at matches, we have vast experience in holding competitions.
No hostilities are taking place on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The RFU should not be subject to sanctions, and these are sanctions, ”RIA Novosti quotes a specialist.
In his opinion, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, finding himself under severe international pressure, could not take a different position, but he was also guided by sports expediency.
“Some English clubs have said that they will not come to St. Petersburg if they reach the Champions League final.
Imagine the state of the head of UEFA, who was under such a sword of Damocles.
In this situation, he decides to transfer to another country, ”explained the ex-head of the RFU.
The head of the organizing committee of the final match, Alexei Sorokin, complained that the football festival in St. Petersburg will not take place, despite the city's full readiness to host it.
“I can only express my regret about what happened.
The Russian Federation gave all the necessary guarantees and strictly complied with them and other requirements.
A large number of people were involved in the project.
We were ready to give both the guests and the Russians a great football holiday.
It is a pity that this will not happen, ”he told RT.
According to Sorokin, UEFA as the copyright holder will deal with the return of purchased tickets, and the organizing committee has no choice but to curtail its activities.
“I have no doubt that fair decisions will be made regarding those who bought tickets.
Now it only remains for us to carry out purely technical work to curtail the project.
It is necessary to solve personnel, financial and legal issues," he stressed.
Former Zenit midfielder Vladislav Radimov recalled that football functionaries had previously refused to play matches in countries with a "hot political situation."
“So it was with Serbia, and with the former Yugoslavia.
So why are we surprised?
Everything is logical.
Of course, for St. Petersburg it is a big loss that a match of this rank will not be held.
But nothing can be done.
You have to deal with it and move on with your life.
FIFA and UEFA always do this.
Will this apply to international matches?
Of course, I don’t even doubt it,” Radimov said.
Honored coach of Russia Rinat Bilyaletdinov was outraged by the verdict.
In his opinion, it was adopted without any legal grounds.
“Everyone says that sport is out of politics, but it doesn’t work.
Behind all this there is political pressure on football structures.
There are no grounds for moving the final to Paris and the clubs' matches on neutral grounds.
But what to do, such times.
This must be accepted.
Sport is sport, it will take its toll, ”the specialist noted.
According to the Organizing Committee, the preparations for the final were ahead of schedule, all organizational decisions were made and agreed by the beginning of 2022.
Thus, the Russian side is likely to suffer financial losses due to the postponement of the match.
Sorokin, in a conversation with RT, found it difficult to assess the possible damage, emphasizing that "this requires a thorough analysis."
According to Koloskov, St. Petersburg has the right to demand reimbursement from UEFA.
Petersburg can count on financial compensation due to the postponement of the Champions League final.
Since this happened due to circumstances beyond the control of the Russian organizers, they have the right to impose a penalty, ”the former functionary noted.
At the same time, the vice-governor of St. Petersburg, Boris Piotrovsky, said that the funds that were still planned to be spent on preparing and holding the final match of the Champions League would be directed to the development of children's sports schools in the city.
“Today St. Petersburg is one of the iconic centers for major international events, we have all the necessary resources and infrastructure.
And this is well known to our foreign colleagues, so it is obvious that such a decision is politically biased.
Although it has been repeatedly stated that sport is outside of politics and should unite, not divide, ”the official wrote in his Telegram channel.
As for the upcoming match of Spartak in the Europa League, it is still unclear how the postponement is regulated and whether spectators will be allowed to play.
According to UEFA rules, there are two options.
If the reason for the transfer of the match from the country is a punishment for the behavior of the fans, the club or the federation, then the match takes place on a neutral field without spectators.
And if the game is postponed due to a natural disaster or force majeure, then the fans are allowed to the match.
How UEFA will decide in this case is still unknown.
If the fans are still allowed into the stadium, then, according to many experts, it is best to play in the capital of Belarus.
“Minsk has a good stadium, it is easy for fans and the team to get there.
The city would be an ideal option, ”said the former red-and-white midfielder Alexander Mostovoy.
He was supported in this by the famous coach Anatoly Byshovets and another ex-Spartak player Valery Kechinov.
The meeting will take place on March 17th.