Politics
Champions League final close to being confirmed for Portugal as UK Government refuses to allow Uefa’s VIP guests attend
WEMBLEY’S hopes of staging the Champions League Final were fading fast as negotiations between Uefa and the Government remained at loggerheads.
SunSport has reported how Euro chiefs have decided the clash between Chelsea and Manchester City on May 29 will be moved from Istanbul after Turkey was placed on the Government’s travel “red list”.
Porto’s Estadio do Dragao is now tipped to host the Champions League final[/caption]
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had offered to host the May 29 showpiece but the government is reluctant to let in as many visitors and guests as Uefa wants[/caption]
PM Boris Johnson offered to host the game in this country and Uefa chiefs identified Wembley as their preferred venue.
But Uefa’s requirement for relaxed border rules to allow nearly 2,000 overseas visitors and guests to attend the game have been the sticking point in discussions.
Government and scientific chiefs are reluctant to allow so many into the country without quarantine requirements of some sort.
The UK was ready to give the okay for some media and broadcast outlets as well as “essential Uefa personnel” to be allowed into the country.
But the demands for access for sponsors and VIP guests – including football chiefs from around the world – appear to have proved a step too far.
It means Uefa is close to confirming it will switch to its back-up option of Portugal, which hosted last season’s “final eight” tournament in Lisbon.
But the Portuguese FA is proposing Porto’s Estadio do Dragao, with a full-house capacity of just 50,000, as its preferred stadium venue.
Currently, fans are still barred from grounds in the country, although the rules are expected to be relaxed.
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Yet it is believed the dragao will be allowed to have just 25 per cent of its capacity, meaning less than 13,000 fans in total.
That will potentially meaning just 3,500 supporters of both Chelsea and City allowed to travel to see the game, although Portugal’s “green list” status means they will not have to quarantine on their return.
A final decision could come as early as this evening but unless there is a sudden shift from either Uefa or the Government it seems that the Wembley option – which would have seen an attendance of up to 22,500 – is increasingly unlikely to be adopted.
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