No Gazprom adverts in Champions League as Uefa aim to end relationship with Russian energy giant

A Gazprom advert is seen during the Champions League last-16 first-leg match between Benfica and Ajax in Lisbon last week

(Picture: Getty Images)

There will no be adverts for Russian state-run energy giant Gazprom during the next round of Champions League matches, as UEFA aims to end its relationship with the company.

European football’s governing body have a major deal in place with Gazprom, believed to be worth in the region of £30million-a-year, but they are looking to cut ties after Russia invaded Ukraine last week.

At an extraordinary meeting of their Executive Committee held on Friday, UEFA confirmed that the men’s Champions League Final on May 28 would be switched from St. Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena to the Stade de France in Paris.

They have also tasked their lawyers with ending their relationship with Gazprom and it is understood no adverts for the company will be in place during the Champions League last-16 second-leg ties next month.

German club Schalke also have a sponsorship deal with Gazprom, but on Monday they confirmed they have moved to end their relationship early following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The partnership between #S04 and #GAZPROM will be ended early.

Full details ⤵️

— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) February 28, 2022

Schalke had already announced last week that they would be removing the Gazprom sponsorship logos from their shirts.

And the club have since revealed that demands for the club strips in Gelsenkirchen have gone up.

“Due to the high demand for the special jersey, the online shop is currently reaching its limits,” Schalke wrote on Twitter.