The Champions League final will not be played at St Petersburg on May 28. Reuters
The Champions League final will not be played at St Petersburg on May 28. Reuters
The Champions League final will not be played at St Petersburg on May 28. Reuters
The Champions League final will not be played at St Petersburg on May 28. Reuters

Uefa moves Champions League final from St Petersburg to Paris


  • English
  • Arabic

The 2022 Champions League final has been moved out of St Petersburg, Uefa announced on Friday.

At an extraordinary meeting of the Uefa executive committee, the decision was made to shift the May 28 showpiece game out of the 68,000-capacity Gazprom Arena.

The title match will now be played at the 80,000-seat Stade de France in Paris.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced European football's governing body to draw up contingency plans.

The governing body 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".

A statement from European football's governing body said: "The Uefa executive committee decided to relocate the final of the 2021-22 Men's Champions League from St Petersburg to Stade de France.

"The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday, May 28, at 2100 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's decision is set to affect Spartak Moscow in the Europa League, with the last-16 draw taking place later on Friday, and also Russia and Ukraine in the 2022-23 Nations League which is due to get under way in June.

  • Chelsea players celebrate after beating Manchester City 1-0 to win the Champions League final on Saturday, May 30.
    Chelsea players celebrate after beating Manchester City 1-0 to win the Champions League final on Saturday, May 30.
  • Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel celebrates after Kai Havertz's winning goal.
    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel celebrates after Kai Havertz's winning goal.
  • Chelsea players celebrate after beating Manchester City in Porto.
    Chelsea players celebrate after beating Manchester City in Porto.
  • Chelsea players celebrate after the match.
    Chelsea players celebrate after the match.
  • Chelsea players celebrate after the match.
    Chelsea players celebrate after the match.
  • Dejected City players Phil Foden and Sergio Aguero after the match.
    Dejected City players Phil Foden and Sergio Aguero after the match.
  • Chelsea's Kai Havertz skips past City goalkeeper Ederson to put his team ahead in the first half.
    Chelsea's Kai Havertz skips past City goalkeeper Ederson to put his team ahead in the first half.
  • City's Phil Foden on the attack being chased by Reece James of Chelsea.
    City's Phil Foden on the attack being chased by Reece James of Chelsea.
  • City forward Raheem Sterling sees an early chance saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
    City forward Raheem Sterling sees an early chance saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
  • City manager Pep Guardiola.
    City manager Pep Guardiola.
  • Chelsea striker Timo Werner shoots at goal in the first half but City goalkeeper Ederson saves his weak finish easily.
    Chelsea striker Timo Werner shoots at goal in the first half but City goalkeeper Ederson saves his weak finish easily.
  • Kai Havertz celebrates his first-half goal. Getty
    Kai Havertz celebrates his first-half goal. Getty
  • City players see their penalty appeals turned down in the second half.
    City players see their penalty appeals turned down in the second half.
  • Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante heads over the bar in the first half.
    Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante heads over the bar in the first half.
  • City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne receives treatment after being caught in the face by Antonio Rudiger's shoulder.
    City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne receives treatment after being caught in the face by Antonio Rudiger's shoulder.
  • Kevin de Bruyne with his eye injury clearly visible.
    Kevin de Bruyne with his eye injury clearly visible.
  • City's Kevin de Bruyne is substituted due to his face injury.
    City's Kevin de Bruyne is substituted due to his face injury.
  • Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger slides in to deny Phil Foden a shot at goal.
    Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger slides in to deny Phil Foden a shot at goal.
  • Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta and Kevin de Bruyne of City challenge for a header.
    Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta and Kevin de Bruyne of City challenge for a header.
  • Chelsea's Thiago Silva on the ground due to an injury that led to him being substituted in the first half.
    Chelsea's Thiago Silva on the ground due to an injury that led to him being substituted in the first half.
  • Chelsea's Kai Havertz is mobbed by teammates after scoring.
    Chelsea's Kai Havertz is mobbed by teammates after scoring.
  • Christian Pulisic misses a chance to make it 2-0 to Chelsea.
    Christian Pulisic misses a chance to make it 2-0 to Chelsea.
  • Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel after a missed chance in the second half.
    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel after a missed chance in the second half.

Fifa has yet to take a decision on what to do about next month's World Cup play-off matches.

Russia host Poland in a play-off semi-final on March 24 and would then face the winner of the Sweden v Czech Republic semi in Russia for a place in Qatar as things stand.

Uefa had already moved the last two Champions League finals due to the Covid-19 pandemic from Istanbul to Lisbon in 2020, and then again from the Turkish city to Porto last year.

The Champions League final was last staged in Russia in 2008, when Manchester United defeated Chelsea on penalties in Moscow.

There were reports that the final could be held in the UK. However, two major stadiums appeared out of bounds.

Wembley is set to host the Championship play-off final on May 28 while the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is primed to stage rugby league's Challenge Cup final on the same day.

match info

Southampton 2 (Ings 32' & pen 89') Tottenham Hotspur 5 (Son 45', 47', 64', & 73', Kane 82')

Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

Facebook | Our website | Instagram

Updated: February 25, 2022, 10:34 AM