European Union pressures Uefa to withdraw continental final from Russia

Amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine in recent days, the European Union has been pressuring UEFA to withdraw the Champions League final from St Petersburg, a Russian city. The information is from Diario As.

Recently, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke on the subject and said it was “inconceivable” that Russia would host the decision of the main tournament on the European continent.

“I find it inconceivable that major international football tournaments, like the Champions League final or any other, can take place in Russia after the invasion of a sovereign country,” Johnson said.

However, changing the venue of the final will not be an easy task for Aleksander Ceferin, president of UEFA. Despite the federation listening to Boris Johnson, one of the great allies in the “fight” against the founding of the Superliga, it bumps into the economic ties between Russia and Uefa, as Gazprom, a Russian energy company and the biggest exporter of natural gas, is a of the main sponsors of the Champions League.

According to the newspaper, however, Boris’ position is supported by major powers on the continent, such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria and the Netherlands.

If the change is confirmed, Germany and England emerge as favorites to host the continental decision. In addition, Uefa will have to decide what to do with the European qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar, where Ukraine will face Scotland, while Russia face Poland, which could even result in a conflict between the two teams in the next stage of the competition.