The Premier League has unanimously agreed to suspend a deal with its Russian broadcast partner to show football matches in Russia.

The agreement, made with Rambler (Okko Sport), will take place with immediate effect.

The Premier League has also agreed to donate £1m to “support the people of Ukraine”.

Shareholders met in London on Tuesday to vote on the decision and a statement said the league “strongly condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”.

“We call for peace and our thoughts are with all those impacted. The £1million donation will be made to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to deliver humanitarian aid directly to those in need.”

The league agreed to a TV rights deal with Rambler in April 2019, securing exclusive regional rights to show English football’s top flight for three seasons.

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Moscow-based TV company Rambler, who outbid the previous distributor Match TV three years ago to secure the TV rights deal, is a subsidiary of Sberbank.

The Russian state-owned broadcaster was added to the UK government’s sanctions list last week.

English football’s governing body, the Football Association (FA), has also suspended its partnership with Russian broadcasters over rights for the FA Cup with immediate effect, according to PA.

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “This is absolutely the right thing to do and we fully support the Premier League’s decision to stop broadcasting matches in Russia in response to Putin’s barbaric, senseless invasion of Ukraine.

“Russia cannot be allowed to legitimise its illegal war through sport and culture, and we must work together to ensure Putin remains a pariah on the international stage.”

Premier League clubs show solidarity with Ukraine

Premier League clubs showed solidarity with Ukraine in recent fixtures, with captains wearing special armbands in Ukrainian colours, while stadium screens displayed “Football Stands Together”.

Ukrainian players Alexander Zinchenko and Vitaly Myjolenko both captained their respective sides last weeks, as they made their first appearances for Manchester City and Everton since the invasion began.

On Saturday, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel criticised some of the club’s fans after they changed for Roman Abramovich during the minute’s applause before his sides match away at Burnley.

The club’s owner Roman Abramovich said last week that he will sell the club, with the “net proceeds” going to benefit victims of the war in Ukraine.

The Russian billionaire bought the club in 2003 but said it was “in the best interests of the club” to sell it.

FIFA announced a temporary rule change

He said he would not ask for loans he has made to the club – reported to total £1.5bn – to be repaid and has put a £3bn price tag on Chelsea.

On Monday, world football’s governing body FIFA announced a temporary change to its laws, allowing foreign players based in Ukraine and Russia to suspend their contracts until the end of June and move elsewhere.

“Players and coaches will be considered ‘out of contract’ until 30 June 2022 and will therefore be at liberty to sign a contract with another club without facing consequences of any kind,” FIFA said in a statement.

Last week, FIFA and UEFA announce that Russia’s national teams and club sides had been suspended from all international competitions, a decision which the Russian Football Union said it would appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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