The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is almost certain to switch this season’s Champions League final away from St Petersburg amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
Russia has sent troops into two rebel-held regions of eastern Ukraine and there are fears an invasion is planned.
Several countries, including the UK, have introduced sanctions against Russia in response to the move.
And against that backdrop, UEFA is viewed as being highly unlikely to attempt to host the game in Russia.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, said there was “no chance of holding football tournaments in a Russia that invades sovereign countries”.
UEFA is in talks with Dynamo Kyiv and Sporting Lisbon over their Youth League last-16 tie which is scheduled to be played in the Ukraine capital on 2 March.
Other UEFA competition fixtures may yet need to be moved. There are no teams from Ukraine left in any other European competition this season but Russian club Zenit St Petersburg are still in the Europa League and are set to play the second leg of their play-off round tie with Real Betis in Spain on Thursday. Zenit lost the home leg 3-2.
At international level, Russia are scheduled to host Poland in a World Cup play-off on 24 March and – if they win – would face Sweden or Czech Republic on 29 March.
Ukraine are also in the World Cup play-offs, and visited Scotland and then either Wales or Austria in their bid to qualify for the tournament in Qatar.
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