Will the first of the targeted sanctions against Russia be football?
While tensions have only been rising for a few days between the Russians and their Ukrainian neighbors, some voices are beginning to be raised against the holding of the Champions League final in Saint Petersburg.
Invited to respond to this subject before his Parliament on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was very firm on this point: "It seems inconceivable to me that major international football tournaments could be held in Russia after the invasion of a sovereign state”.
As of now, no changes expected from the UEFA side
Earlier in the day, the Johnson government's sports minister, Nadine Dorries, tweeted along the same lines: "I have serious concerns about the holding of sporting events planned in Russia, in particular the final of the Champions League, and I will discuss it with the relevant authorities.
We will not allow President Putin to exploit such events on the international stage to legitimize his illegal invasion of Ukraine.
»
I have serious concerns about the sporting events due to be held in Russia, such as the Champions League Final, and will discuss with the relevant governing bodies.
We won't allow President Putin to exploit events on the world stage to legitimize his illegal invasion of Ukraine.
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) February 22, 2022
The current situation on the border between Ukraine and Russia has already prompted UEFA, organizer of the Champions League, to react in a press release: "UEFA is closely and constantly monitoring the situation .
At this time, there are no plans to change locations.
However, the parent body of European football knows that it can change its plans at the last minute if necessary.
The finals of the 2019 and 2020 editions had been relocated due to the Covid crisis: the 2020 edition was to end at the Atatürk stadium in Istanbul before UEFA decided to organize a "Final 8" in Lisbon, while the 2021 edition, initially scheduled for Saint Petersburg, was first moved to Istanbul and then, two weeks before the match, to Porto.
Read alsoCrisis in Ukraine: chronology of an escalation in six dates