How does the conflict between Russia and Ukraine affect sports?

 How does the conflict between Russia and Ukraine affect sports?

This season's Champions League final as well as the 2022 World Cup play-off round have to be rescheduled because of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

On the afternoon of February 25 (Hanoi time), the European Football Federation (UEFA) announced the change of the venue for this season's Champions League final. The Stade de France stadium in Paris, the capital of France, has been chosen as the new venue to host the final of Europe's top tournament 2021/22.

Besides the Champions League, many leagues, teams and other sports activities in Europe were also affected after the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out.

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UEFA President, Aleksander Ceferin, decided to move the venue for the 2021/22 Champions League final after coming under pressure from European public opinion. Photo: The Week.

The difficult position of UEFA and FIFA

Earlier this season, UEFA chose Krestovsky Stadium in the city of Saint Petersburg (Russia) as the venue for the 2022 Champions League final. However, the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine changed everything. change.

In the emergency meeting just took place, UEFA confirmed that they will continue to closely monitor developments happening in Ukraine. "UEFA is committed to working with all stakeholders to support and rescue footballers and their families in Ukraine," the statement reads.

UEFA also decided to move the home matches of teams from Russia or Ukraine to a neutral venue until further notice. According to the plan, both Russia and Ukraine will play the play-off of the 2022 World Cup in Europe next March.

If Ukraine has to be a guest on the Scottish field, Russia will host Poland on March 24. Russia is also the host country of the matches in Group B play-off World Cup 2022. Previously, all three teams in Group B including Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic issued a joint statement refusing to play in Russia. in the play-off round of the World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he was shocked by what was happening and vowed to urgently review the situation involving players, coaches or their families stranded in Ukraine. "I am worried about this situation. FIFA condemns the use of force," said Infantino at a press conference at dawn on February 25 (Hanoi time).

UEFA leaders are also under pressure to review sponsorship deals with Gazprom, Russia's top gas group. Gazprom is closely related to the Russian government and has been a partner of UEFA for many years.

Schalke 04's leadership said that from February 25, the German club's shirt will no longer have the words Gazprom on the chest. Gazprom has been the main sponsor of the German football team for more than a decade.

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Shakhtar Donetsk, the top strong Ukrainian team, had to stop all activities because of instability in their homeland. Photo: Reuters.

Other sports activities

Many Brazilian foreign players are playing in Ukraine on social networks looking for help to leave Ukraine. On February 24, the Brazilian players of Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Kyiv expressed concern for their safety and that of their families. ESPN revealed that this group of players is staying together at a hotel in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Football Federation (UAF) announced that the national championship of this country will be postponed for at least 30 days. The Ukrainian Premier League was originally scheduled to return this weekend, after a mid-season break. The Ukrainian National Championship has played 18 rounds and Shakhtar Donetsk is leading with 47 points, 2 points more than the second ranked team, Dynamo Kyiv.

The UAF also announced that it would file a protest if any Russian team or club participates in official UEFA and FIFA tournaments in the future.

F1 race organizers say they are "closely monitoring developments". In September, the Grand Prix in Russia will take place in the city of Sochi. Four-time F1 world champion, Sebastian Vettel, announced that the Grand Prix in Russia should be cancelled. Vettel confirmed he will not participate in the race in Sochi.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) said it was closely monitoring developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The FIS insists it will ensure the safety of the participants of the skiing World Cup taking place in Russia this weekend.

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced that the matches in the World Cup qualifiers, scheduled to take place this weekend in Belarus, have been postponed. Belarus is also a country involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.