UEFA to announce today if Champions League final will be taken from Istanbul

UEFA and the British government are meeting over the move of the Champions League final from Istanbul to London. UEFA, which is considering taking the Champions League final from Turkey for the second time in a row, is preparing to put forward a target of 2023 to avoid angering Turkish officials.

The future of the Champions League final, scheduled to be played in Istanbul, remains uncertain, with a final decision to be made after talks between UEFA and the British government on Monday. English teams Manchester City and Chelsea will challenge each other in the giant match which is normally expected to be played at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on May 29. However, owing to the difficulty of travelling of English fans to Turkey due to the corona virus, the final could be taken to England.

After Turkey’s decision to close on May 17, the growing rumors intensified when the British government imposed restrictions on travel with Turkey. According to the spokesman, officials from the English Football Association have begun discussions with UEFA about the match being played in England, while all issues are expected to be clarified at the meeting on Monday. The decision to leave the meeting will be announced within 48 hours.

PORTO AS ALTERNATIVE CITY

The New York Times reported that Porto would be considered as an alternative if a decision to move the final to England cannot be taken. UEFA’s demands from the British government include waiving quarantine requirements so that international broadcasters, sponsors, suppliers and officials can adjust their plans and attend the match.

UEFA also wants guarantees for spectators. Fans will start attending matches this month, albeit in limited numbers, in England. But this figure is limited to 10 thousand people. TFF had previously announced that 25 thousand people would be taken to the match in Istanbul. The British government has sent a message to UEFA, announcing that 20 thousand people will attend the FA Cup final, which will be played at Wembley Stadium in London on May 17.

WEMBLEY INSISTENCE

British officials indicated that the match could be played at Wembley, although Wembley Stadium was prepared for play-off matches that week. Play – off matches, on the other hand, will be moved to other locations or played on different dates. Chelsea and Manchester City, on the other hand, have also applied to UEFA to host the Champions League. However, UEFA insists that if the match is moved to England, it will be at Wembley, a neutral ground.