UCL final from Russia
Russia was originally due to host the Champions League final in 2021. Photo by RUSLAN SHAMUKOV/AFP via Getty Images UEFA are exploring contingency plans to move this season’s Champions League final from Saint Petersburg amid concerns over the prospect of military conflict between Russia and Ukraine , sources have told ESPN. The Krestovsky Stadium, which was built as a centrepiece of Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup, is due to stage the 2022 Champions League final on May 28, becoming only the second Russian city to host the biggest game in club football following Moscow’s staging of the 2008 final between Manchester United and Chelsea . Saint Petersburg had initially been scheduled to host the 2021 final, but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to UEFA staging the 2020 and 2021 finals in Portugal, Lisbon and Porto respectively, with original hosts Istanbul and Saint Petersburg being reallocated their hosting of the final in 2023 and 2022. The prosp...