The Russian-Ukrainian conflict continues to escalate and affect the sports world, and Russia's 2022 plan has been hit hard. Following the loss of the right to host the Champions League final in St. Petersburg, the F1 Russian Grand Prix is also very likely to "fall through".
On the 25th Beijing time, UEFA officially announced that the final of the 2021/22 European Champions Cup will be moved from the St. Petersburg Stadium in Russia (also known as the New Zenit Stadium) to the Stade de France in Paris.
The St. Petersburg Stadium in Russia is currently the home of Zenit and can accommodate 68,000 spectators. He has hosted many matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and Euro 2020.
UEFA also pointed out that in view of the current situation, all home matches involving Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams will be tentatively held in the middle until further notice.
At the current European club competitions (Champions League, Europa League, European Union), only Spartak Moscow has reached the round of sixteen in the Europa League. The club's home stadium is the Spartak Stadium in Moscow.
In the World Cup qualifiers in the European zone play-offs, Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Russia are in the same group, and Scotland, Wales, Austria and Ukraine are in the same group, and each group has only one place to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
For the above decision of UEFA, Alexander Dyukov, president of the Russian Football Association, expressed dissatisfaction on the 25th. He said in a statement that the venue change for the Champions League final was "politically determined".
"The Russian Football Federation has always adhered to the concept that 'sports have nothing to do with politics' and therefore opposed the decision of UEFA." "We also do not support the transfer of any Russian match to the midfield, as this violates the principles of sport and the interests of athletes, coaches and fans," Zyukov's statement read. ”
At the same time, the local organizing committee in St. Petersburg also expressed disappointment that the plan failed. "Russia Today (RT)" quoted a person concerned as commenting, "Russia has proven to be the perfect organizer of major international sporting events and a reliable partner for world sports." In the years of preparation for the Champions League final, we have met all the requirements and aspirations of UEFA. ”
As the Conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, the Russian sports world has been under pressure from many sources. In addition to football, Sochi, Russia, is also very likely to lose the opportunity to host the 2022 F1 Russian Grand Prix.
F1 officials released a statement on social media on the 25th, saying that after discussions between the team, the FIA and F1 parties, it was unanimously agreed that it was "impossible" to hold a race in Russia at the moment, and "hoped that the conflict situation could finally be resolved peacefully and quickly".
However, the agency has not yet decided to cancel the event, and the official promotion company of the Russian Grand Prix also said that there is no need for spectators to rush to refund the ticket, and the cooperation between the two sides is currently suspended due to "force majeure".
At present, haas team sponsored by Russia's Ural Potash Company has removed the Russian elements of the body and replaced it with an all-in-white body.
Former Haas Racing Team
Nikita Mazeping, the F1 Russian "only seedling" who played for the team, was quite helpless, "It was a difficult period, and there were many things I couldn't control. I chose to focus on what I could do. For the sake of Haas Team, I will do my best and sincerely thank you for your understanding and support. ”
Ma Zeping (left) is interviewed
The Sochi Circuit in Russia has been on the F1 calendar since 2014 and winds its way through the Olympic Park.
RT pointed out that this year's race was originally a curtain call in Sochi, after which the Russian Grand Prix will be relocated to the Igora Drive circuit north of St. Petersburg.
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