LONDON, May 11, 2021 - Portugal may play host at short notice to the Champions League Final between Chelsea and Manchester City on May 29 instead of Turkey’s Istanbul.
Officials from European federation UEFA, the UK government and Football Association met on Monday to begin ongoing discussions over moving the game after Turkey was put on England’s red travel list meaning fans cannot travel.
Portugal is on the UK’s so-called ‘green list’ so fans would be allowed to attend either of the mooted venues in Lisbon – which staged last year’s final – or Porto.
Ironically fans are currently barred from attending domestic Portuguese matches.
European football’s governing body believes a venue in Portugal would be less of an access problem for officials as well as the sponsors and broadcasters who would seek compensation if unable to attend.
Travellers from England to green-list countries do not have to quarantine on their return.
Quarantine
UK citizens returning from red-list countries are required to quarantine at a government-approved hotel for 10 days. Such a quarantine would have an impact on players involved in Euro 2020, which starts on June 11.
Last Friday, the UK’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Covid-19 red-list countries “should not be visited except in the most extreme circumstances”.
A precedent for shifting the final was established last year after the Covid-19 pandemic shut down football for three months.
Istanbul should have played host in 2020 and was pushed back a year with the scheduled 2021 venue St Petersburg also delayed.
A similar pushback would be expected this time although Turkish authorities may prefer to skip a year and target 2023 which would be the centenary of the creation of the modern Turkish state.
UEFA had hoped to give both clubs a minimum of 4,000 tickets each for the game at Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Fans groups from both Chelsea and Manchester City have formally requested that the the game be moved away from Istanbul.
A further complication for a possible Wembley staging concerns the second tier play-off final which is scheduled for May 29. However, it is understood the EFL would consider moving the match if asked.
