Scotland takes Russia UEFA Champions League place

Russian Premier League winner Zenit St. Petersburg’s place in the next UEFA Champions League group stage will go instead to the champions of Scotland, according to UEFA’s updated list of allocated entries, the Associated Press reported.

Scotland’s second-placed side will now go into the third round of Champions League qualifying rather than the second.

Glasgow Celtic are currently six points ahead of Glasgow Rangers with three games left to play.

Further, Russia will not have entries in next season’s Europa League and Europa Conference League.

Russian soccer teams were also kicked out of the Women’s European Championship, the next men’s Champions League and qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup by UEFA on Monday.

The latest round of sporting sanctions during Russia’s war on Ukraine follow FIFA and UEFA suspending Russian national and club teams in February from playing in international competitions, including the men’s World Cup playoffs.

Those previous decisions are under appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport by the Russian Football Union and the latest expulsions are also likely to be challenged.

UEFA said Portugal will take Russia’s place in the Women’s Euro 2022 being hosted by England in July. Russia qualified by beating Portugal in the playoffs round.