Advertisement
A view of Wembley Stadium. PA

Uefa poised to switch Champions League final to Wembley

Turkey was placed on the UK Government’s ‘red list’ on Friday.

UEFA IS SET to switch the Champions League final to Wembley if certain assurances can be met.

The Government decision to place Turkey on the high-risk ‘red list’ for international travel on Friday evening threw plans to stage the all-English May 29 showpiece in Istanbul into disarray.

Officials from European football’s governing body are understood to be meeting virtually with civil servants from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on Monday with a decision expected within the next 24 hours.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said on Friday that supporters of Chelsea and Manchester City should not travel to Turkey for the match, but added that the Government was “very open” to staging it here.

Uefa is understood to have ruled out any venue within the UK except for Wembley, and to be seeking guarantees of quarantine-free entry to the country for its delegates, along with media, sponsors and other VIPs.

It also wants the Government to ensure it can match the 22,500 capacity pledged for the group stage and last 16 matches at Euro 2020.

Uefa’s insistence on Wembley would require the Championship play-off final to be moved.

It is understood the EFL would consider all options – including altering the arrangements for those fixtures to accommodate the Champions League final – should it be contacted by Uefa.

That could mean the matches being played on different dates, or at alternative venues.

Turkey was placed on the Government’s ‘red list’ after a rise in coronavirus infections in the country.

It is understood Uefa was given notice of the Government’s intention to make this move well ahead of it being publicly confirmed on Friday evening.

Relations between the two are strong after Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin recognised the key role played by the Government in putting pressure on the clubs who threatened to form a breakaway European Super League.

View 4 comments
Close
4 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor O'Farrell
    Favourite Conor O'Farrell
    Report
    May 10th 2021, 12:04 PM

    UEFA making a lot of demands/exemptions for their delegates. As usual, they think they are above the law and local guidelines. The UK should tell them to take a hike.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ᴛᴏᴍ49
    Favourite ᴛᴏᴍ49
    Report
    May 10th 2021, 1:59 PM

    Nearly as bad as two London clubs having to travel all the way to Baku two years ago for the Europa League final.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Dillon
    Favourite Kevin Dillon
    Report
    May 10th 2021, 12:47 PM

    Istanbul will want the 2022 final now

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomás Cooley
    Favourite Tomás Cooley
    Report
    May 10th 2021, 2:25 PM

    Makes sense considering majority of both club’s fans are in London.

    8
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel