UEFA set to strip St Petersburg of Champions League final

UEFA is expected to confirm today that this season's Champions League Final will no longer take place in St Petersburg.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine overnight forced European football’s governing body to start drawing up contingency plans on Thursday for the showpiece event on 28 May.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has called an extraordinary meeting for today where it is expected the 68,000-capacity Gazprom Arena will be stripped of its right to host the final due to Russia’s attacks.

"Following the evolution of the situation between Russia and Ukraine in the last 24 hours, the UEFA president has decided to call an extraordinary meeting of the executive committee for Friday 25 February at 1000 CET (0900 Irish time), in order to evaluate the situation and take all necessary decisions," an initial UEFA statement read.

The governing body of European football later added: "UEFA shares the international community’s significant concern for the security situation developing in Europe and strongly condemns the ongoing Russian military invasion in Ukraine.

"As the governing body of European football, UEFA is working tirelessly to develop and promote football according to common European values such as peace and respect for human rights, in the spirit of the Olympic Charter.

"We remain resolute in our solidarity with the football community in Ukraine and stand ready to extend our hand to the Ukrainian people.

"We are dealing with this situation with the utmost seriousness and urgency. Decisions will be taken by the UEFA Executive Committee and announced tomorrow."

Football Supporters Europe had called for an "imminent announcement" over arrangements for the Champions League final.

"On this tragic day, our thoughts are with everyone in