Russia has expressed regret after UEFA withdrew the country's right to host the 2022 UEFA Champions League final.
The European final was to be held at the Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg on May 28.
But after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia will no longer host the tournament. The match will instead be played at the Stade de France in Paris.
The press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, said, "Of course, it's a pity that such a decision has been made. But [the decision] has been made, so it is accepted."
Asked if he thought the decision was politically motivated, the spokesman replied, "No, I did not say that. I just expressed my regret."
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin convened a meeting Friday morning in light of the escalating situation in Ukraine.
Not only was St. Petersburg stripped of its status as a venue for the Champions League final, but it was also decided that club and national teams competing in European competitions in both Russia and Ukraine would have to play at neutral venues from now on.
A statement from UEFA read, "The UEFA Executive Committee has decided to move the final of the 2021/22 UEFA Men's Champions League from Saint Petersburg to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The match will be played on Saturday, May 28 at 21:00 CET, as originally planned.
"UEFA would like to express its gratitude and appreciation to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, for his personal support and commitment to the relocation of European club football's most prestigious game to France at a time of unprecedented crisis.