A decision on the new venue for the game is expected within the next 24 hours with UEFA determined to ensure clarity for the two clubs and their supporters, he explained. espndeportes.com.
While sources have told ESPN that Wembley Stadium is UEFA’s favorite choice for hosting the game, but so far the UK government has not relaxed its regulations requiring arrivals to the country to quarantine for 10 days.
Making it impossible for the Champions League Final to move to London as up to 2,000 UEFA employees and sponsors, as well as international broadcast rights holders, need to be in the game.
As reported ESPN on Friday, the UK government’s decision to put Turkey on its travel red list forced UEFA to find a new host venue for the English Final due to the need for all arrivals from Turkey to the UK to be put on quarantined in an airport hotel for 10 days.
There are no exemptions to UK law, which means that all players and coaching staff at the two clubs would be quarantined upon return to England.
Playing the game at Wembley would ensure that up to 25,000 City and Chelsea fans could attend the big game.
Sources have told ESPN UEFA is still in talks with the UK government and the English Football Association in an effort to find a breakthrough that will allow the game to be played at Wembley.
– On the other hand, Portugal is included in the UK’s green list, which allows free travel between the two nations and UEFA has identified Lisbon as the backup option in case the UK government refuses to relax its restrictions.
Benfica’s Estadio da Luz hosted the 2019-20 Final between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain after the match was removed from Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The José Alvalade Stadium, home to Sporting Lisbon, also hosted games in last season’s Round of 16 competition.
– –
