Russia stripped of Champions League final and Grand Prix after Ukraine invasion

International sport has begun to turn its back on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, with two prestigious events stripped from the country on Friday.

The Champions League football final in May was moved from Russia’s second-largest city, St Petersburg, to Paris while motor sport’s world governing body the FIA announced September’s Formula One Russian Grand Prix had been cancelled.

The decisions were welcomed by the British Government, with Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries saying: “Our message is clear: Russia must not be able to legitimise their heinous and barbaric attack on Ukraine by hosting international sporting and cultural events.”

The International Olympic Committee also called on Friday afternoon for global sports federations to cancel or relocate any future events they are planning to stage in Russia or Belarus.

Manchester United ended their commercial relationship with Russia’s national airline Aeroflot while UEFA is understood to be discussing with its lawyers how it can sever its ties with Russian energy company Gazprom, a major Champions League sponsor.

UEFA had been widely expected to relocate its showpiece club match from St Petersburg – the home city of Russian president Vladimir Putin – following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, and the switch to the Stade de France in Paris was confirmed at an emergency executive committee meeting on Friday morning.

“UEFA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to French President Emmanuel Macron for his personal support and commitment to have European club football’s most prestigious game moved to France at a time of unparalleled crisis,” a statement from European football’s governing body said.

“Together with the French government, UEFA