Premier League suspends its deal to show football matches in Russia
The Premier League has unanimously agreed to suspend a deal with its Russian broadcast partner to show football matches in Russia.
The agreement, made with Rambler (Okko Sport), will take place with immediate effect.
The Premier League has also agreed to donate £1m to “support the people of Ukraine”.
Shareholders met in London on Tuesday to vote on the decision and a statement said the league “strongly condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”.
“We call for peace and our thoughts are with all those impacted. The £1million donation will be made to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to deliver humanitarian aid directly to those in need.”
The league agreed to a TV rights deal with Rambler in April 2019, securing exclusive regional rights to show English football’s top flight for three seasons.
Read: Scotland v Ukraine World Cup play-off semi-final postponed
Moscow-based TV company Rambler, who outbid the previous distributor Match TV three years ago to secure the TV rights deal, is a subsidiary of Sberbank.
The Russian state-owned broadcaster was added to the UK government’s sanctions list last week.
English football’s governing body, the Football Association (FA), has also suspended its partnership with Russian broadcasters over rights for the FA Cup with immediate effect, according to PA.
Premier League clubs showed solidarity with Ukraine in recent fixtures, with captains wearing special armbands in Ukrainian colours, while stadium screens displayed “Football Stands Together”.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “This is absolutely the right thing to do and we fully support the Premier League’s decision to stop broadcasting matches in Russia in response to Putin’s barbaric, senseless invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia cannot be allowed to legitimise its illegal war through sport and culture, and we must work together to ensure Putin remains a pariah on the international stage.”
