UEFA is coming under growing pressure to strip Istanbul of hosting rights for the Champions League final for the second season running – and hand its showpiece fixture to Wembley to accommodate the two English finalists.
The British government is reported to be engaged in “delicate negotiations” with UEFA to move the game, given that Turkey on the UK’s red list for traveling to countries worst hit by Covid-19, making it all but impossible for British fans to attend.
While switching the Chelsea-Manchester City showdown would be the logical decision with Turkey in the throes of a national lockdown scheduled to last until May 17, it’s a hugely tough ask for UEFA who were forced last year to move the latter stages of the competition to Lisbon because of the pandemic and would be reluctant to let Istanbul down again.
Among the other factors involved is that compensation would almost certainly have to be paid to the Turkish organisers while Wembley has already been handed eight games of the European Championship across June and July.
Then there is the fact that another date would have to be found for the May 29 Championship playoff final to determine promotion to the Premier League, one of the biggest games in the English calendar and viewed as the single most important fixture from a financial standpoint.
Conversely, if UEFA sticks with Istanbul, all the players involved would be required to enter quarantine on their return from Turkey, unless exemptions were granted, which would impact their preparations for the Euros.
According to the latest UK government regulations red-list countries should only be visited “in the most extreme of circumstances”.
“We are very open to hosting the final but it is ultimately a decision for UEFA,” British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said. “The UK has already got a successful track record of football matches with spectators, so we are well placed to do it.
“Given there are two English clubs in that final, we look forward to what they have to say.”