UEFA Moves Champions League Final From Turkey
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has decided to move the Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City set for 29 May from Turkey’s Ataturk Stadium.
This came after the country was put on England’s red travel list meaning fans cannot travel.
UEFA, UK government officials and the Football Association met on Monday to discuss moving the game from Istanbul.
Porto’s Estadio do Dragao, which has a capacity of 50 000, is expected to be named as the venue on Thursday.
UEFA would prefer not to stage the match in Lisbon, which hosted last year’s final.
UEFA is still not in a position to confirm the switch, which would see Istanbul given the 2023 final, having originally been due to host last year before the move to Lisbon.
Travellers from England to green-list countries (Portugal, for instance) must follow rules before departure but do not have to quarantine on their return.
UK citizens returning from red-list countries (such as Turkey) are required to quarantine at a government-approved hotel for 10 days.
Meanwhile, UEFA had hoped to give both clubs a minimum of 4 000 tickets each for the game at Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
