UPDATE 3-Soccer-Russia waives some visas for Champions final

(Adds confirmation from UEFA, paras 2-3)

By Gennady Fyodorov

MOSCOW, May 5 (Reuters) - Russia has waived entry visa requirements for fans with a valid ticket for the May 21 Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea, match organiser Alexei Sorokin told Reuters on Monday.

European football's ruling body UEFA confirmed the visa requirements would be dropped.

"All ticket holders attending the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow on May 21 will be able to use their match ticket as a visa entry to the Russian Federation for a 72-hour period," UEFA said on its Web site (www.uefa.com).

However, a Russian foreign ministry spokesman said officials were still working on arrangements for visa-free entry and details had not been finalised. The offer would apply only to certain categories of fans, he said.

"A fan can come without a visa and...enter Russia with a valid ticket," said Sorokin, the Russian official coordinating preparations for the match. "It is an unprecedented decision by the Russian government."

Sorokin said visa-free entry would be valid only for a stay of not more than 72 hours.

The ministry spokesman said it was possible the visa-free arrangement would apply only to those fans who arrived in Russia on the day of the match and left immediately afterwards, without an overnight stay.