February 23, 2022 - HeadtoHeadFootball

Soccer

Report: UEFA likely to move UCL final from St. Petersburg amid Ukraine crisis

Plans to stage the Champions League final in Russia are now in jeopardy.

UEFA is understood to be exploring the possibility of moving this season’s final away from St. Petersburg over concerns related to the escalating political tensions between Russia and Ukraine, according to ESPN’s Mark Ogden.

The European governing body is monitoring the situation and may opt to move the showpiece event for the third year in a row if the situation deteriorates in the weeks and months leading up to the match on May 28.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken out against the Champions League final being staged in St. Petersburg, telling reporters there was “no chance of holding football tournaments in a Russia that invades sovereign countries,” according to BBC News.

Putin’s tactics have resulted in several nations introducing strict sanctions they are prepared to impose against Russia.

St. Petersburg was initially scheduled to host the Champions League final in 2021 before the contest was moved to Portugal due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 2020 final was set to be staged in Istanbul, Turkey, but was moved to Portugal as well because of the pandemic.

Wembley Stadium in London is unlikely to be chosen as an alternative venue, sources told Ogden, considering that the League Two and Championship playoffs finals are scheduled to be played there on the same weekend as the Champions League final. Wembley will host the 2024 final.

Other cites in London, including Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and West Ham’s London Stadium, could be considered.

Stadiums in Rome, Munich, Paris, Amsterdam, and Barcelona would all be in the running as well should the match be moved from Russia, Ogden added.

NFL

Landry: 'Like to stay,' but ball in Browns' court

Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry tweeted Tuesday that he would “like to stay” in Cleveland, but added that he is confident he can still be a contributor for another team in “winning a championship.”

Landry struggled with injuries throughout the 2021 season, beginning with, as he noted in the Twitter thread, a Week 2 knee sprain.

3/3 I have put the ball in CLE court by telling them I would like to stay but if not then I’m confident enough in myself to be a better healthy me this year and moving forward to helping do my part in winning a championship elsewhere.

— Jarvis Juice Landry (@God_Son80) February 22, 2022

He finished the season with 52 catches while playing in 12 games. Landry had just 570 yards receiving with only two receiving touchdowns.

Landry did not interview with reporters through the team the rest of the season following wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s release in early November. Landry and Beckham are close friends dating back to their time together playing at LSU.

On Twitter, Landry explained why he stayed silent as the Browns struggled down the stretch on the way to an 8-9 finish, saying he was “focused on getting on the field as healthy as possible during the week and after games.”

Landry is not a free agent but has no guaranteed money left on his deal.