Zenit St. Petersburg’s match will continue as UEFA prepares for an extraordinary meeting over Russia’s hosts of the Champions League final
Reigning Russian Premier League champions Zenit St. Petersburg’s crucial Europa League match against Spanish Real Betis will continue as planned on Thursday, according to reports amid uncertainty as to whether tournament organizers UEFA will take action against Russia.
Russian league leaders Zenit start the second round of the playoffs 3-2 behind after a thriller in St. Petersburg. Petersburg a week ago, when the hosts recovered from conceding two early goals to 2-2 after 28 minutes.
Betis then scored again before the break to give themselves the advantage on their way to the decision in Sevilla.
The match will take place according to the schedule according to the Russian broadcasters for the competition, Match TV.
The channel had previously quoted club president Alexander Medvedev for telling fans to wait for official information about the match.
Medvedev is vice chairman of the steering committee of the Russian energy company Gazprom, which is at the center of a campaign by the German newspaper Bild.
Outlet has faced accusations of hypocrisy after calling for German Schalke to “hide” their sponsorship with Gazprom, whose logo appears on the front of their shirts.
UEFA has called for an extra meeting on Friday, when it is reported that the Champions League final – scheduled to be held at Zenit’s home on May 28 – will be moved to another country due to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
Leaders, including the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson and his Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, have emphatically stated that the spectacle should not be carried out in Russia.
Zenit may face problems with hosting future matches in this season’s Europa League regardless of the decision on the Champions League final, with some teams expressing concern about traveling to Russia.
The Swedish Football Association has called a potential World Cup play-off qualifier in Russia next month “unthinkable”.
Earlier this week, Kamil Bortniczuk, the Polish Minister for Sport and Tourism, said he wanted his country’s visit to Russia in the first round of the World Cup qualifiers, scheduled for March 24, to take place in a neutral environment.
(RT.com)
Source: sn.dk
