Barcelona to play Shakhtar in Ukraine as planned: UEFA

The Champions League match between Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine, due to be played in Donetsk on December 7, is to go ahead after UEFA received appropriate security guarantees from the Ukrainian authorities

The Champions League match between Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine, due to be played in Donetsk on December 7, is to go ahead after UEFA received appropriate security guarantees from the Ukrainian authorities.

European football's governing body UEFA said it had informed the two Group F clubs, as well as the Ukrainian and Spanish football associations, that Ukrainian authorities promised they would take "all necessary measures" to ensure the game went ahead as planned.

UEFA said it was closely monitoring further developments in Ukraine, wracked by a political crisis unleashed by a fiercely-disputed, and as yet unresolved, presidential poll held on November 21.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta earlier Tuesday asked UEFA for their opinion on the "delicate social and political situation brought about by recent elections and the insecurity across Ukraine."

The Catalan club said it feared that the football match "could be exploited in the context of the country's instability."

Barcelona are second in Group F, two points behind leaders AC Milan going into this last game, while Shakhtar sit bottom, one point behind third-placed Celtic FC.