Football news - Arsenal’s clash with Vorskla in doubt as Ukraine side can't guarantee attendance

The match had been scheduled to take place in Poltava but has been moved after martial law was declared in some regions of Ukraine.

It was due to take place in Kiev due to security concerns, UEFA had announced, but the Ukraine side say they cannot guarantee the match will be played. The news emerged as Arsenal were on their flight to Kiev.

Manager Unai Emery have taken a young squad to Kiev having already qualified for the last 32 with two games to spare ahead of the North London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.

Oleh Lysak, the Vorskla vice president, confirmed the match may not be played and said "'the Olympic Stadium hasn't given us any kind of confirmation or any other kind of answer" with the Ukraine club apparently attempting to switch the fixture back to the original venue.

The Group E fixture had been scheduled to be held in Stadion Vorskla im. Olexiy Butovskiy in Poltava, around 185 miles (300 kilometres) east of the Ukrainian capital.

However, after martial law was declared in some regions of the country, UEFA’s emergency panel announced the match will now take place in Kiev’s Olimpiyskiy Stadium.

A statement from European football’s governing body read: “UEFA’s emergency panel has today taken the decision to relocate FC Vorskla’s UEFA Europa League group stage match against Arsenal FC from the city of Poltava, following the introduction of martial law into certain regions in Ukraine.

“The match will now take place at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev on Thursday, November 29 at 1855CET (1755GMT).

“UEFA will continue to monitor and assess the security situation in Ukraine in the coming days before making any decision on potentially relocating other matches.”

Kiev’s Olimpiyskiy Stadium hosted the 2018 Champions League final in May, as well as the Euro 2012 final.

Ukraine’s president has called for martial law to be imposed in the country due to escalating tensions with Russia, whose coastguards are accused of seizing three Ukrainian ships in Crimea on Sunday.

Up to 500 Arsenal fans were expected to travel to the game in Poltava and had to make alternative arrangements to travel to the Ukraine capital.

Arsenal said in a statement on their website they were “currently working closely with UEFA and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and welfare” of all Gunners fans travelling to the match and would provide further updates on match arrangements as soon as they had received confirmation from UEFA.

Arsenal are already through to the Europa League’s last 32 and will win the group with victory over a side they beat 4-2 in London in September.