In response to President Vladimir Putin’s conflict in Ukraine, the Premier League has suspended its six-year partnership with Russian broadcaster Match TV.

The league’s annual general meeting was held on Thursday, June 9, and all 20 clubs were informed that the contract had been shelved due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

Match TV is owned by Gazprom Media, which has deep ties to the Russian government, and the station was personally launched by President Vladimir Putin in 2009 following a presidential decree. The Football Association has a deal with the network to broadcast club games, while UEFA has a deal to show the Champions League.

A deal with Match TV to kick in from the start of next season had already been agreed upon before the latest decision. 

The decision comes after Manchester City ’s Ukraine star Oleksandr Zinchenko urged sporting organisations to “stop the sale of rights to broadcasts of international sporting competitions to Russian media.” 

Football across western Europe has taken a firm stand against the war, displaying the Ukraine flag and broadcasting messages for peace before games.

The most significant consequence of the war has seen the ownership of Chelsea change hands after oligarch Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government and the club was forced to operate under a special licence that barred all investment.

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