UEFA has moved the Champions League final to Paris following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a statement has confirmed.

The final was set to be played at the Gazprom Arena in the Russian city of St Petersburg on 28 May, but this has been changed to the Stade de France in Paris instead.

The decision to move the football showpiece event was made at an emergency meeting of European football’s governing body today.

A statement from European football’s governing body said: “The UEFA executive committee decided to relocate the final of the 2021-22 UEFA Men’s Champions League from St Petersburg to Stade de France in St Denis.

“The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday May 28 at 9pm CET.

“UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to French Republic president Emmanuel Macron for his personal support and commitment to have European club football’s most prestigious game moved to France at a time of unparalleled crisis.”

UEFA also said that the home games of Ukrainian and Russian club and national teams competing in UEFA competitions will be played at neutral venues “until further notice”.

Ukraine invasion in pictures: Fear, loss and the human cost of the conflict

Ukraine invasion: UK flights banned from Russian airspace and airports after Aeroflot not allowed to fly to Britain

Ukraine crisis: Russia has failed to take any of its major objectives and has lost 450 personnel, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says

It comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine yesterday.

Russia and Ukraine were also both scheduled to play World Cup play-off matches in March, but FIFA said the situation between them would be monitored.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino recently said the governing body has “a duty to look into the footballing consequences of what is happening”.

He said: “FIFA condemns the use of force by Russia in Ukraine and any type of violence to resolve conflicts. Violence is never a solution and FIFA calls on all parties to restore peace through constructive dialogue.”

Related posts:

Storms in Germany blow roof off opera house and flood stage as people sit inside Sydney remains in lockdown amid ‘national COVID vaccine stockpile’ US backs Simone Biles after top gymnast withdraws from two Olympic finals to focus on her mental health Foreign secretary ‘unlikely’ to attend Beijing Winter Olympics as calls for boycott grow Earth Overshoot Day: We’ve already consumed more this year than the planet can regenerate Two Belarus team coaches removed from Olympics over attempt to send sprinter home Taliban announces Afghan caretaker government, including FBI-wanted militant as minister Tens of thousands in show of support for embattled Brazil president Bolsonaro Russian emergencies minister who was ex-Putin bodyguard dies while trying to save filmmaker UK security outlook more dangerous now than at any time in past 30 years, warns new head of armed forces Indian supreme court to investigate Hindu leaders over ‘genocide’ against Muslims claims European diplomats remain nervous as talks over Ukraine depend on ‘Russians backing down’