Istanbul Red Zone, Lisbon Become Champions League Final Venue Options
JAKARTA - The complicated transfer of the Champions League final venue from Istanbul to Wembley Stadium in London has given rise to Lisbon's Estadio do Dragao as a new option for the final stage between Manchester City and Chelsea on May 29, sources told Reuters.
UEFA organisers have been in talks with the British government and the English Football Association (FA) about the intention of moving the competition's final to Wembley after last week Turkey was put on the UK's COVID-19 "red list" so English football supporters should not watch the match there.
But a source with knowledge of the matter said that although talks resumed Tuesday, obstacles arose around the need to provide exceptions to international television crews, technical and support staff, and sponsors.
Given that many of the individuals from different countries are required to undergo quarantine once they arrive in the UK, it takes a wide exception that makes it difficult to agree.
Istanbul will most likely not host the final because of the conditions it faces, and moving the final arena to Lisbon would make sense for English football fans who want to watch the match live, rather than risk and greater effort if they stage the match at Wembley.
Last week, the British government included Portugal on the "green list" since May 17, meaning English football supporters would be free to go to watch the game if the match was eventually moved there.
Portugal is currently in the final phase of loosening the lockdown and is expected to lift travel restrictions on May 17.
Last year's final was moved from Istanbul to Lisbon due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but sources hinted that Portuguese authorities would appoint Porto as host if the country became the venue for the Champions League final.
According to Reuters, reported by Antara on Tuesday, UEFA and the Portuguese Football Federation declined to comment on the news.