Three PL stadiums listed as Boris Johnson calls UEFA to allow UK to host UCL Final

Three PL stadiums are currently listed as Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls for UEFA to allow the UK to host the upcoming UCL Final.

It was announced on Friday that Turkey will be on the UK’s Covid ‘red list’, which means that Chelsea and Manchester City supporters could potentially avoid a costly ten days in hotel quarantine on return from Istanbul after the game.

Johnson has told national media: “The Champions League is the pinnacle of European club football.

“And with two English teams in the final, it would be a great shame if fans were unable to attend.

“It would be brilliant to host it here if we can. I want to help supporters of both clubs see their team in action.”

Johnson’s intervention has strengthened hopes of the game being moved after UEFA were surprised by the red-list announcement and now left considering a U-turn.

If the game was to be played over in England, up to 15,000 fans could attend with lockdown rules easing.

The UK Government will grant clubs a quarantine exemption should the final remain at the Ataturk.

That will be a huge relief for England boss Gareth Southgate, who was worried about losing the likes of Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell until four days before the June 13 opener against Croatia.

There is no issue entering Turkey but English fans coming back would have to splash out nearly £2,000 EACH before being allowed back home.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned: “It does mean fans should not travel to Turkey. The FA are in discussions with Uefa already.

“We are very open to hosting the final but that’s ultimately for Uefa.

“We already have a successful record of matches with spectators and given two English clubs are in that final we look forward to hearing what Uefa say.”

 

 

 

 

 

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UEFA were planning to allow up to 6,000 fans from each club at the game, now scheduled to have an attendance of 25,000.

However with Turkey experiencing a new wave of the Covid virus, this now looks unlikely.

UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin has thanked Boris Johnson for helping save football from the threat of the breakaway Super League last month.

Government legal threats was partly responsible for persuading the ‘Big Six’ (or should we instead call them ‘Greedy Six’ clubs to take note of the fan backlash and quit the £4.6billion project.

Ceferin said: “Boris Johnson is aware football fans are working class. The reaction was very logical — he cared what happened to football, because that would affect the people, of course.

The Government’s threat of a “legislative bombshell” helped persuade the Big Six rebels to heed the fan backlash and turn their backs on the £4.6bn project.

And Ceferin, who spoke directly with the PM, said: “Boris Johnson is aware that football fans are from the working class.

“They live hard, and they spend the last money to watch football matches, which is their passion, relaxation, which is part of European culture, part of history.

“It seemed to me the reaction was very logical – he cared what happened to football, because that would affect the people, of course.

“It was very responsible from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to take a sharp stand on the side of the fans, not only because of the culture and love of football, but also because it ensures order in the country.”

Johnson has got in touch with UEFA to offer up the UK as an option for staging extra matches at Euro 2020, although in the event there will be just one extra last 16 knockout tie at Wembley.

“It was very responsible from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to take a sharp stand on the side of the fans.”

Johnson also offered for the country to be considered as as an option for staging extra Euros games but there will be just one extra last-16 Wembley tie.

Any Champions League final move would be welcomed by Chelsea and Man City fans, who are facing a four-hour flight each way, plus they have to consider the expensive costs of hotels and match tickets — and now that quarantine.

Wembley is set to be used for the playoff finals on the weekend of the Champions League showpiece, making it rather complicated.

Though UEFA had been offered the use of three Premier League stadiums, St James’ Park for the Euros by the FA, with other options including the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or the Emirates.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa offer the use of Villa Park for the Champions League final – however the stadium is not equipped to UEFA standards for such a big event – the press box, media facilities and camera positions would all need to be heavily adapted, yet assessments of those changes are ongoing.

Another thing that needs to be considered is that broadcasters and journalists from all over the world, as well as UEFA staff and other officials would have to change their travel and accommodation plans, and they may be forced to quarantine when they return to their own countries once they have left the United Kingdom.

The entire branding operation would have to start again from scratch, and sponsors and commercial partners would also be affected.

Fans reacted after seeing that three PL stadiums are listed as Boris Johnson calls UEFA to allow the UK to host the upcoming UCL Final…

@hadleytom881: Does more for football than he does for the people of this country

@mike_ne20: Given the geographical location of the two teams involved, wouldn’t the King Power be the best and most logical choice?

@marklhrufc: Oil Money Cup Final! Both shouldn’t be allowed to play in any competition for the next 10 years same goes for other 4 clubs that wanted to be in super league!

@luisagottardo1: Honestly I don’t care if it’s played at Scunthorpe’s ground, just play the final in England!

@BillyFindlay: Definitely move it to England and have a #finalforthefans – what better way to celebrate a final with the two best teams in Europe by having the fans there that support them

@CFCAzza97: Makes no sense to have it in Turkey now city and Chelsea are confirmed finalists, play it in England and let some fans in

@DaleMarsters: Play in England or is that too sensible?!

@WebboOne: Surely no brainer, bring it to UK? Understand Wembley is out of action but we have many great stadiums including in Scotland and Wales. Let Istanbul host in the next 2 years when they can get full benefit of the tourism etc

@rebekkarnold: Null & void the champions league

@CSPerks: With Wembley booked why not the Millennium Stadium.

@heyit5sam: Villa park don’t meet UEFA’s criteria. Plenty of other stadiums in the UK that do. Emirates, Old Trafford, Anfield, Principality, Tottenham, Olympic, St James’s Park, Hampden Park, Ibrox, Celtic Park, Leicester City to name a few

@HLouiseL: Bet UEFA won’t care and won’t consider relocating the all English final to England. Villa Park of King Power would be an ideal central location for the tie. Would allow some fans and keep travelling relatively low and safer. But what do I know?

@vontasben: Makes sense to consider Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, surely?

All this talk about switching stadiums for the #UCL final all these problems will be solved if @UEFA just hurry up and build this thing. pic.twitter.com/0hyXOc5Mfe

— Finn 🇬🇧🇨🇦 (@TheBritCadian) May 7, 2021