Wembley could host Champions League final due to Russia-Ukraine conflict

UEFA 'monitoring' situation in Russia ahead of Champions League final in Saint Petersburg.AP

Amid the concerns regarding the ongoing situation between Russia and Ukraine, the fate of the Champions League final could take a turn.

Currently the final is scheduled to take place at the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on May 28.

According to the Daily Star, UEFA are expected to host the final elsewhere unless the situation drastically improves.

Hosting the final is worth around 60 million pounds and there is every suggestion that London will be the stage for the event once again.

Wembley to host the Champions League final

After hosting much of the delayed 2020 European Championship, including the final, Wembley Stadium could be called on again to host the fixture which is regarded as the pinnacle of European club football.

Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are still in the competition, and should two of those reach the final, then Wembley will be the hub of another important final in less than 12 months.

The chair of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Julian Knight, has already called on UEFA to act now.

Wembley last hosted the Champions League final back in 2013, when Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1. Two years prior, the English national team's stadium hosted the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United.

No repeat of last season

Last year's Champions League final was moved from Istanbul to Porto with just three weeks' notice after Turkey went onto the COVID-19 red list, meaning that supporters of Manchester City and Chelsea would not have been able to travel.

It was a move that annoyed many fans who had to alter plans massively to be able to make the final after spending heavily to get the original tickets and transport sorted.

With the situation between Russia and Ukraine highly unlikely to be resolved in the coming months, there is a sudden urgency placed on UEFA to not repeat the last-minute changes of last season and instead plan with fans in mind.