UEFA to punish Russia by moving Champions League final from St Petersburg after Ukraine invasion

UEFA said it will move this year's Champions League final from St Petersburg in the wake of Russia's devasting invasion of Ukraine, a source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Thursday.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee on Friday morning and it is expected to agree on moving the final.

The Champions League final, the showcase match in European club football, was set to be held at Zenit St Petersburg's stadium on May 28 - an event that would have normally drawn thousands of fans from across the continent.

Russia launched an unprovoked offensive on Ukraine early Thursday morning, launched a blitzkrieg strike toward the capital Kyiv.

The bombardments of Ukrainian towns and cities have come at a devastating cost for civilians, with thousands trying to flee the capital.

(Reuters)