UEFA will not be moving the Champions League final away from
Turkey, even if both finalists are English clubs.
The Champions League final is scheduled to be played on May 29
in Istanbul’s Atakurk Stadium.
Manchester City and Chelsea are well placed to meet in the final
after City’s 2-1 win over PSG and Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Real
Madrid in the semi-finals.
Turkey announced on Thursday that it will go into lockdown after a
surge in coronavirus cases with stay-at-home orders until May 17.
The country recorded 37,312 new covid infections and 353 deaths
in 24 hours.
UEFA however, are still optimistic that a “limited number” of fans
can still attend the Ataturk, a venue famous for Liverpool’s 2005
triumph over AC Milan.
The Champions League final will take place in Istanbul on May 29
and we are assured that the temporary lockdown which is in force
until May 17 should not have any impact on the match,” UEFA said
in a statement.
UEFA also dismissed speculation that this year’s final could be
moved to Wembley if both Manchester City and Chelsea reach the
end of the tournament.
It has been reported that organisers told the eight quarter-final
clubs that they hoped 9,000 spectators would attend the final.
This will now be in the hands of Turkish authorities but UEFA
remain “optimistic.”
If no fans are allowed, the game is still likely to go ahead among
the backdrop of empty stands like last year.
The Ataturk could have hosted PSG and previous champions
Bayern Munich but the game was moved to Lisbon in a small
knockout tournament from the quarter-final stage.
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