Foreign Secretary Liza Truss has urged Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United and Man City to boycott this season's UEFA Champions League final in Russia amid growing diplomatic pressures in Eastern Europe.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City have already picked up wins in the first leg of their respective Round of 16 ties against Lille, Inter Milan and Sporting respectively, while United are yet to play Atletico Madrid.
Two of the last five Champions League finals have been contested by Premier League club's only as the top flight in England continues to show it's dominance over the rest of Europe in recent times, and the likelihood of an English team reaching this year's showpiece event is currently high.
Last season's final was hosted in Porto between Chelsea and Man City and both teams could indeed make it again to finale but Jurgen Klopp's side will be keen to change that.
Regardless of which team does make it to this year's occasion, one of the main talking points ahead of the final is the venue selected for such an event.
The Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg is a venue that Thomas Tuchel's side have first hand experience of this season, travelling there when the Blues played out a dramatic 3-3 draw with Zenit in the group stages.
However, since this last group game ahead of the knockout stages, diplomatic pressures between Ukraine and Russia have gotten significantly worse with a prospect of a war possible if things don't calm down soon.
As a result of this uncertainty, UEFA is set to switch the venues for the 2021/22 final. Though Wembley has been touted as a possible alternative - though that looks unlikely as the stadium is to host the Championship play-off final on the same day.
football.london understands that while the final will be moved away from Russia, a decision regarding a potential alternative is unlikely to be made until around four weeks before May 28.
UEFA met yesterday to discuss the event after Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine, and while no final decision was made, continuing as planned during a conflict is untenable. Both nations are members of European football's governing body.
While a statement released afterwards said that UEFA is "constantly and closely monitoring the situation and any decision would be made in due course if necessary", the game will not take place in a country that is at war with another member nation.
The wait for a final decision goes on but Foreign Secretary Truss has not wasted anytime in sending out her advice to all three English clubs that are still in with a chance of making it.
Speaking on LBC Radio when asked by a caller about the Champions League final and whether an English team should travel, she reiterated the words 'No, no."
She added: "If I was on an English team, I would boycott it.
"I would personally not wanting to be playing in a football match in St Petersburg given what the Putin regime is doing."
Truss isn't the only one to have had her say on this issue, with culture secretary Nadine Dorries also raising her 'serious concerns' in Parliament recently.
"I have serious concerns about the sporting events due to be held in Russia, such as the Champions League final, and will discuss with the relevant governing bodies," Dorries said.
"We won't allow President Putin to exploit events on the world stage to legitimise his illegal invasion of Ukraine."
Even some managers in the game have had their say on the issue, but Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick didn't want to get drawn too much into the detail as he believes this is an issue for politicians to debate and sort out between themselves.
He said in a press conference via the Manchester Evening News: "It's still a long way until the final. If we are to have a chance, we need to play Atletico first. We're fully aware it's not the easiest of all draws that we could get.
"What would happen then is something for UEFA and something for politicians to decide upon. We all hope, not only here in England, but in the whole of Europe and the rest of the world, that things de-escalate. This is more important than a Champions League game, to be honest."
At this current moment, the focus of the four English managers will solely be on making the final but if at least one of them does, then they will certainly be posed more questions on the issue at hand if it is still unresolved down the line.
