Russian invasion of Ukraine: How the military conflict has affected European football

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is now in its fourth day, not only affecting political tensions around the world, but also significantly affecting sporting events. In this article we look at how the Russia-Ukraine crisis is affecting European football.

Champions League final moves from Russia to France

As we have already informed you, the final of Europe’s most prestigious club competition is moving from the Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg to Paris. UEFA confirmed the decision to relieve the Russian city of hosting duties at an executive committee meeting on Friday. The final, which is scheduled for May 28, will thus be hosted by Princes Park.

In announcing the news, UEFA thanked French President Emmanuel Macron and the French government for their role in helping to relocate the game.

“UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to Emmanuel Macron for his personal support and commitment to move European club football’s most prestigious game to France at a time of unprecedented crisis,” the official statement read.

“Together with the French government, UEFA will fully support the multi-stakeholder efforts to ensure the rescue of footballers and their families in Ukraine who are facing terrible human suffering, destruction and displacement,” the statement from the European governing body continued.

Russian and Ukrainian teams will play at neutral venues

Clubs and national teams from Russia and Ukraine competing in UEFA competitions will play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice. The decision will particularly affect Spartak Moscow in the Europa League and the Russian national team.

The latter is preparing for the World Cup qualifying semi-final barrage against Poland in March. If Russia wins against Poland, it will also play the winner of the other semi-final, where our Czech national team faces Sweden’s national team, at a neutral venue.

Ukraine is also in the World Cup qualifying play-offs, but as they are already designated as the visiting team, UEFA’s decision will not affect these matches.

Depending on how long the UEFA decision remains in force, it may have an impact on Russia and Ukraine’s matches in the Nations League. That competition takes place in June and September 2022. Russia is scheduled to play Iceland, Israel and Albania, while Ukraine is in a group with Scotland, Ireland and Armenia.

UEFA’s decision came under pressure from national football associations to play against Russia and Ukraine. The Polish, Swedish and Czech associations have sent a message to FIFA stating their view that Russia should be stripped of its World Cup qualifying hosting duties or excluded from the competition altogether.

FIFA decided at its meeting that Russia would not be excluded for the time being, but this could reportedly change if the situation in Ukraine does not improve. Following FIFA’s statement, the aforementioned national associations have decided not to enter any possible clashes with Russia at all.

Footballers hold protests against the war

The escalation of military conflict in Ukraine following Russia’s decision to invade the country has prompted a number of footballers to speak out against the war.

In arguably the biggest match of the Europa League knockout play-off round between Barcelona and Napoli, both groups of players posed in front of a banner reading “Stop the war”.

Prominent Ukrainian football stars such as former Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko and Manchester City midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko posted emotional pleas for the defence of their country.

Russian footballer Fyodor Smolov posted a message on social media.

Former AS Roma boss Paulo Fonseca, who is stuck in Kiev, condemned the conflict as an “unacceptable war”. Others have been more direct in their criticism of Russia. Former German international Markus Babbel described Vladimir Putin as a “f***ing bastard”.

Football in Ukraine suspended

Unsurprisingly, professional football activity has been suspended in Ukraine. Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Roberto De Zerbi revealed that he was woken up by the sound of explosions.

“The Italian embassy asked us to leave, but I am a sportsman. I couldn’t turn my back on the club, on football and just leave,” De Zerbi said. “In the end they closed the airspace and we stayed here,” the Italian coach added.

A number of Brazilian footballers who play for Shakhtar and Dynamo Kiev posted a video of themselves and their families pleading for help from their governments. “In light of the current situation, we stay in this hotel and ask for your help.

There is a fuel shortage in the city, the borders are closed, the airspace is closed, we cannot leave,” the footballers said in the video. “We are asking for help from the Brazilian government, we hope you will help us by sharing this video and reaching as many people as possible,” the desperate players added.

Ukraine’s Premier League has stopped before the 19th round is played and it remains unclear when sports activities will be allowed to resume.

Football clubs end sponsorship partnerships

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created a lot of pressure on business partnerships between some clubs and Russian companies.

Manchester United withdrew sponsorship rights from Russian airline Aeroflot not long after the company was banned from flying to the UK.

In Germany, Bundesliga side Schalke will remove the inscriptions of Gazprom, Russia’s state energy company, from their jerseys, while Matthias Warnig, who is a representative of the company, will resign from the club’s board.

Gazprom is also a partner of UEFA and this has increased pressure on the European governing body to sever its relationship with the energy giants. Although it is not yet clear whether the break will happen.

Source: Goal, Twitter