SOCCER
UEFA ends partnership with Gazprom
UEFA has ended its deal with Russian firm Gazprom amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
UEFA has ended its partnership with state-owned Russian energy company Gazprom. Gazprom renewed its deal with UEFA ahead of the European Championship in 2021 and had an agreement in place to include sponsorship of the Champions League up until 2024.
In a statement released on Monday, UEFA said: “UEFA has today decided to end its partnership with Gazprom across all competitions.
“The decision is effective immediately and covers all existing agreements including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA national team competitions and UEFA EURO 2024.”
UEFA has ended its Gazprom deal at the same time as, along with FIFA, suspending the Russian national team and club sides from competing.
Russian teams removed
Russia will not face Poland in their planned World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final on March 24, and Spartak Moscow will not play RB Leipzig in their Europa League round of 16 tie.
Bundesliga outfit Schalke 04, who had been sponsored by Gazprom for 15 years, last week removed the Russian company from its shirts.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, UEFA moved the 2021/22 Champions League final from the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg to Paris’ Stade de France.