UEFA is considering terminating the sponsorship contract with Russia's Gazprom

The European Football Association (UEFA) is studying the termination of its sponsorship contract with Russian gas giant Gazprom, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, AFP learned Saturday from a source familiar with the discussions.

The Continental Federation is “preparing” to end a partnership that has been going on since 2012, and it must take a decision in its executive body, which will meet “next week,” according to what the same source added, confirming reports published by English media.

According to "The Times" and "The Telegraph", the European Union, whose executive body met Friday urgently, asked its lawyers to launch an immediate termination of the contract linking him with Gazprom, which is owned by the majority of the Russian state.

And specialized media estimated the contract between Wifa and Gazprom at 40 million euros annually.

 The Saint Petersburg-based group has been sponsoring the Champions League since 2012 and extended its contract with the Confederation in May 2021 until 2024. Gazprom was also a sponsor of the last European Cup and is expected to sponsor the 2024 European Cup.

Saint Petersburg Stadium was named after Gazprom, where several European Cup matches were held last summer, knowing that this stadium was stripped Thursday of hosting the Champions League final in favor of Paris.

It is reported that Alexander Dyukov, head of Gazprom Neft, the oil branch of Gazprom Group, is the president of the Russian Football Association and a member of the European Union's executive body.

And the German club Schalke 04, which is also sponsored by Gazprom, decided Thursday to withdraw the name of the Russian group from the shirts of its club.

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