Uefa will take the 2022 Champions League final away from St Petersburg following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The decision will be made at Friday’s emergency meeting of European football’s governing body.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine on Thursday.
World football’s governing body Fifa is to meet on Thursday, with Russia and Ukraine both scheduled to play in World Cup play-off matches in March.
Russia are set to play Poland on 24 March, while Scotland host Ukraine on the same day.
Ukraine’s domestic football league was set to resume this weekend after a winter break but that will remain suspended. Fifteen of the most recent 23-man Ukraine squad play in their homeland.
Sweden are also in the play-offs where they will meet the Czech Republic. The winner of that tie could meet Russia for a place at the World Cup finals, which get under way in Qatar in November, if they win their semi-final. Karl-Erik Nilsson, the chairman of the Swedish Football Association, told Reuters a match in Russia was “almost unthinkable” at the moment.
Later on Thursday, a joint statement was issued by the Polish, Czech and Swedish FAs telling Fifa that the play-off matches should not be played in Russia.
It says the countries will not travel there due to safety concerns and want “immediate” action over alternative locations.
Source: BBC