Barcelona vs. Shakhtar Donetsk: Neutral Ground in Hamburg Due to Ukraine Crisis
The upcoming Champions League clash between Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk is set to take place on neutral ground, specifically in the city of Hamburg, Germany. This unusual venue selection is a direct consequence of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has rendered the nation unsuitable for hosting international fixtures, having imposed martial law last year.
Ukrainian clubs faced the challenge of identifying alternative ‘home’ venues for their European competition matches. In response to this dilemma, Shakhtar Donetsk has chosen Hamburg, one of the prominent cities in northern Germany, which extended its support to accommodate the football club.
It’s worth noting that this new ‘home’ location in Germany is far from convenient for Shakhtar, requiring an extensive 11-hour bus journey from their actual home base in Kyiv. In a poignant reminder of the ongoing conflict, Shakhtar hasn’t played at their true home stadium, Donbass Arena, for nearly a decade due to the warfare in the Donbas region. The club had previously been displaced to Lviv, then to Kharkiv, and ultimately to Kyiv, where they contested home matches in domestic competitions.
Notably, last season, Shakhtar was compelled to host their home Champions League fixtures in Poland due to the prevailing circumstances.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to impact the lives of civilians, including children, and devastate Ukrainian cities, it is imperative to condemn the actions of aggression and terror perpetrated by the Russian government.
