UCL: Wembley ‘could host Champions League final as Russia invades Ukraine
Champions League final could reportedly be moved to Wembley after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The showpiece is scheduled to take place at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on May 28.
But Russian president Vladimir Putin is increasingly likely to enter into a war with Ukraine.
And according to the Daily Star, Uefa bosses ‘would be left with no choice but to switch venues’ if Putin continues with his military aggression.
The chances of Wembley getting the nod, believed to be worth around £60m, would be heightened should two English teams reach the final.
read also:Transfer window: Mourinho hands Arteta new summer dilemma
Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are still left in the competition.
The Star adds that ‘Uefa are monitoring the Ukrainian crisis closely, with a view to drawing up a contingency plan if needed’.
Julian Knight, the chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, has called on Uefa to act now.
He told The Telegraph: “It’s something that must be considered given this naked act of aggression.
“To host such a landmark event as the Russian tanks roll sends out all the wrong messages.”
Last season, the final was moved to Porto from Istanbul at just three weeks notice, with Turkey then on the Covid-19 red list meaning supporters could not travel.
Meanwhile Russian tanks are on the move after Putin reportedly ordered troops into Ukraine and recruited medics to prepare for “bloodshed”.
Videos show military vehicles in two breakaway areas of that Putin recognised as independent states last night – effectively annexing them into Russia.
Fears were mounting the Moscow is now poised to move beyond the rebel held pockets to snatch more territory from Ukraine.
Russian MP Leonid Kalashnikov said Russia would recognise the whole of Donetsk and Luhansk regions – rather than just the areas currently under rebel control.
With tension mounting, Ukraine said two of its soldiers were killed and 12 others wounded in heavy shelling overnight.
Boris Johnson has chaired an emergency Cobra meeting this morning after the Russian president ordered his long-feared invasion under the guise of peace-keeping.