Russia: Prohibition of beer advertising in stadiums brings into question the holding of UEFA Champions League cup-finals 2008/2009 in Russia
Russia: Prohibition of beer advertising in stadiums brings into question the holding of UEFA Champions League cup-finals 2008/2009 in Russia
An event happened on May 24 could become historic for Russia. A special UEFA expert group arrived in Moscow with the purpose to prepare a report about the readiness of Luzhniki stadium for holding of UEFA Champions League 2008 and 2009. The biggest stadium in the country became one of arenas applied for the holding of one of these finals. The executive committee of UEFA will make its final choice on basis of expert reports in October. So far, all applicants shall have to do, as they say, a "showmanship", The Union of Russian Breweries announced May 25.
One of issues related to the law on prohibition of beer advertising in sport events. As is well known, one of sponsors of Champions League is a beer manufacturer.
“We shall think it over and try to find an acceptable solution”, answered the deputy mayor Valery Vinogradov. The president of Russian Football Union, Mr. Mutko, added that there could be several solutions right up to alteration of the law or exclusion of international competitions from its wording.
Later, Mutko complained that Russian parliamentarians never heard his warnings. "Certainly, it would not come to holding of matches of Russian teams on neutral football grounds,” he reassured. “But the UEFA’s attitude to us will not change for the best." In any event, the “beer question” stays still open.
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