By Josh Fordham
UEFA urged to ‘use common sense’ and move all-English Champions League final between Chelsea and Man City from Istanbul to Wembley with fans
UEFA has been urged to move the Champions League final to England after Man City and Chelsea confirmed their places in the showpiece event.
The final on May 29 is due to be held at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, a city that is currently in lockdown.
The Turkish capital is due to ease restrictions soon and UEFA have committed to holding the game there.
The sporting body hope 4,000 tickets can be secured for the two finalists with the aim to fill the stadium’s 75,000 capacity to 50 per cent.
Foreign travel may be allowed from the UK from May 17, with a government announcement expected in the coming days, but there is no guarantee that Turkey will be a destination allowed without needing to quarantine on return.
Sports Bar hosts Andy Goldstein and Jason Cundy have called on UEFA to do the sensible thing and hold the game at Wembley.
Man City booked their place last night having beaten PSG while Chelsea won against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Goldstein told talkSPORT: “This game is scheduled to be played in Turkey, which at the moment is in lockdown.
“I understand that they will be coming out of lockdown, hopefully, just under two weeks before.
“If UEFA have got any common sense they will move this game to Wembley. Two English sides and in COVID times, this game shouldn’t be in a country hit so badly at the moment.
“After the year we’ve had where everyone has been in lockdown and has been awful, we could play this game at Wembley with 25 per cent capacity and you’d have two English sides at Wembley.
“I know the people at UEFA aren’t necessarily listening to this show… some might… but someone at UEFA with a little bit of common sense have got to get this game moved to Wembley so the Man City fan, the Chelsea fan have a chance of going to see this final.
“It has to be played over here.”
Cundy added: “It makes too much sense. It’s an argument that has few flaws in it.
“I can’t argue with that. UEFA will have their reasons to say no, but it makes too much sense.”
One potential problem is that the Championship Play-Off Final is booked in for the same day, but the Sports Bar hosts said that one should be moved elsewhere.
Goldstein said: “Some people have tweeted and texted to say it’s the Championship Play-Off final on the same day, move it.
“Move it to Old Trafford. It’s not rocket science. Two words… move it. Just move one.”
Cundy added: “Any stadium that can have the most fans. Old Trafford is the obvious choice.”
Of course, UEFA have been reluctant to move finals in the past just like they did back in 2019 when Chelsea played Arsenal in the Europa League final.
The game was held in Baku, with no direct flights for English fans to be able to get there, and despite pleas for the game to be moved it stayed in Azerbaijan.
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