Russia-Ukraine crisis impact on football: Live news updates on Champions League, World Cup, Roman Abramovich and more

Nadine Dorries, UK Culture Secretary said: “I applaud the EFL and FA for this show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people by lighting up the iconic Wembley arch blue and yellow ahead of the Carabao Cup Final. Our national game is united against the unprovoked act of aggression from Russia against a sovereign state.”

The Carabao Cup final is scheduled for 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

The Wanda Metropolitano has been lit in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

Ukrainian international Andriy Lunin plays for city rivals Real Madrid.

Poland are scheduled to play in Moscow on March 24, and have urged FIFA for clarification on the fixture.

Captain Lewandowski has said: “Everything that is beautiful in sport is contrary to what war brings. For all people who value freedom and peace, this is a time of solidarity with the victims of military aggression against Ukraine. As the captain of the national team, I will talk to my teammates about the match with Russia in order to work out a common position on this matter and present it to the president of the Polish Football Association as soon as possible.”

The Athletic understands that the Polish FA will discuss options with Sweden and Czech Republic before taking on a firm stance on whether they want the match to be played at all, regardless of location.

Frank Lampard has said he is undecided whether Richarlison’s Everton teammate Vitalii Mykolenko will play against Manchester City tomorrow.

EuroLeague, the top division of European basketball, has announced that games scheduled to be played in Russia will be moved.

This affects three Russian teams – Zenit Saint Petersburg, UNICS, and CSKA Moscow.

CSKA vs Barcelona, which was set for Sunday, has been suspended.

(Photo: Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)

The Ukrainian international was born in Russia to Ukrainian parents, but moved back to his homeland as a child.

“He’s not in a very good position at the moment – we’ve given him a few days off,” said David Moyes.

“I spoke with him yesterday and he was upset, which you can imagine. We just hope his family keep safe.”

(Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images)

The Ukrainian international has been at Manchester City since 2016.

“What would you do if someone abroad attacked the UK? It’s how he feels,” Guardiola said.

“It’s a worry, what we feel with our country where we were born. Killing innocent people, how would you feel? I guess that’s how he feels.

“Of course it’s close to him. Of course he has our support. It happened in the country he was born, he loves, it’s attacked from the outside. He’s tough and knows we are here.”

(Photo: Peter Powell/PA Images via Getty Images)

The Polish FA have urged FIFA to make a decision on their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Russia, after UEFA and other sporting federations decided on Friday to move events scheduled to be staged in the country.

Poland are scheduled to travel to Russia on March 24, with either Sweden or Czech Republic then playing in Moscow on March 29, should Russia win.

A spokesperson for the Polish FA told The Athletic: “We are still waiting for the feedback from FIFA. We learned nothing at yesterday’s press conference after the council meeting.

“We are of the position that FIFA, as the organizer of the World Cup, has all the arguments and tools to make decisions about the change of the venue or the game itself.”

More here.

(Photo: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

“The IOC EB today urges all International Sports Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus.

“The IOC urges that no Russian or Belarussian national flag be displayed and no Russian or Belarussian anthem be played in international sports events which are not already part of the respective World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sanctions for Russia.”

UEFA and FIFA have not yet confirmed whether Russia’s World Cup Qualifier against Poland in Moscow on March 24 will go ahead.

Poland, Sweden, and Czech Republic wrote an open letter yesterday outlining their refusal to travel.

(Photo: Li Yibo/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Leipzig’s head coach Domenico Tedesco spent two years at Spartak between 2019 and 2021. He said: “It’s obviously a special draw for me. I had a great time at Spartak. I met a lot of great people and made many friendships there.

“I would have obviously preferred to have faced them again under different circumstances. I really hope that everything can be done to come to a peaceful agreement.”

Commercial director for sport Florian Scholz added: “Of course, we wanted to play the last 16 of the Europa League under different circumstances. We’ve already made our position clear on this topic. We are hoping for a peaceful solution to end this conflict as soon as possible.”

Leipzig face Spartak in the last 16 on March 10 and March 17.

(Photo: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Ignatenko, 24, is on loan from Shaktar Donetsk, who have not been able to play in Donetsk for over six years due to the conflict.

Coach David Guion said: “Yesterday, Danylo arrived at training in tears. I am a man and a citizen above all. I myself am very touched by what is happening. I spoke with Dany. He is very affected. His family is there in Ukraine. I told him I was there to support him. The club and the entire Bordeaux family are there to protect him”.

Captain Joshua Guilavogui added: “We don’t realize how lucky we are to live in a country at peace. Seeing the distress of a teammate is really very hard. It is through a look, an attention, a little word of affection that we support him on a daily basis”.

Klopp’s No 2 said earlier on Friday: “It’s war. It’s a true disappointment for humankind.”

Moyes said: “He’s not in a good position and we’ve given him a few days off.

“It’s a difficult time for him and his family.”

Guardiola said: “He is worried. He has family and friends.

“If they are killing innocent people in your country how would you feel? He has our support. That is normal.”

“The situation is desperately sad,” Rangnick said. “I think everybody will think similarly about that, it’s just an incredible situation that we have a kind of war in Europe. And therefore, the decision UEFA took was inevitable and it was the right decision.

“I think everybody has the same opinion about what’s happening there. This is just a human disaster, what is happening there for all the people involved.

“Right now, as far as I can tell, the situation in Russia and in Moscow is still safe but this doesn’t change anything about the whole situation, which is desperately sad. When I still watch TV in the morning and the evening I still cannot believe what I see there.

“This is just a terrible situation and I very, very much hope the politicians all over the world can help to deescalate the situation and finish those kinds of things that are happening there.”

Manchester United have ended their commercial partnership with the Russian state airline Aeroflot, following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

The UK government on Thursday banned Aeroflot from flying in its airspace and the Civil Aviation Authority had suspended its foreign carrier permit.

Aeroflot had been a commercial partner of Manchester United since 2013.

Click here to read the full story.

Carlo Ancelotti has said Real Madrid and Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has been impacted by the war in his home country.

Ancelotti said of Lunin: “Of course Lunin doesn’t have the same spirit as before. He has his mother, his friends there. He is very worried, it affects his spirit. Training helps you not to think about these things. All this affects him.”

Lunin, 23, has been capped six times by his country.

(Photo: Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Formula One have decided to cancel their race in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine.

The race was due to be held in Sochi on September 25 but it will no longer take place.

This news comes just hours after UEFA decided to move this year’s Champions League final from Saint Petersburg, Russia to Paris, France.