The European Football Association (UEFA) has suspended its commercial contracts with Gazprom, the main Russian energy company linked to Vladimir Putin.

After the European Football Association confirmed the change of venue for the Champions League final scheduled for May 28 in Saint Petersburg to be replaced by Paris, and suspended all Russian teams from the competitions organized under its wing, the governing body. Football in the ancient world Cessation of work contracts with Gazpromthe main Russian energy company associated with the president Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This new decision of the European entity came in the framework of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and after losing the final in Gazprom Arena For the decisive match in the Champions League, it has now been decided to cancel these commercial links with the said company. The novelty happened on the same day FIFA and UEFA announce the ban of all Russian national teams from all their competitions.

This decision does not leave the Russian national team any chance to play in the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The match was scheduled at home against Poland in the final stage of the European qualifiers. The other consequence is that Spartak Moscow had to visit RB Leipzig for the round of 16 of the Europa League on Thursday 10 March (the rematch was scheduled for 17 in the Russian capital) and was disqualified.

However, it remains to be confirmed whether there will be changes in the competitions in which the Russian representatives have participated, that is, if Leipzig ends up taking advantage of the suspension of Spartak and advancing directly to the quarter-finals of the European League, and if the Polish team passes without playing its key and waits for the winner of the cross Between the Czech Republic and Sweden for a ticket to Qatar 2022.

UEFA reported the suspension of contracts with Gazprom in its statement where it noted: “The decision is effective immediately and covers all existing agreements, including the Champions League, national team competitions and Euro 2024.”.

Gazprom has been one of UEFA’s main sponsors since 2012 and according to information from agencies, the contract was valued at $45 million (€40 million) per year, data is also provided by consulting Football KPMG. The link covered the Champions League, the international competitions organized by the European Football Association, as well as Euro 2024 to be held in Germany.

It must be remembered that the Schalke 04 team, which plays today in the German second division, has Gazprom as a sponsor on its shirt, I decided to remove the signature logo. The contract between them began in 2007, at the signing of the agreement in which Putin himself was present, and reached 28 million dollars annually (25 million euros)transcend $25 million (20 million euros) Bayern Munich received it from Deutsche Telekom.

The Russian company will invest a total of $101 million ($90 million a year) in sports in general.

Gazprom is a gas company that was founded in 1989 and privatized in 1993, although The Russian government holds 38.37 percent of the company’s shares. Today it is one of the largest energy companies in the world and is linked to Putin. It has been 23 years since he entered football and his presence has grown as he has become the most powerful gas supplier in Western Europe.

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