Aston Villa has approached the FA and UEFA to complete the Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City at Villa Park, reports Sky Sports. This should prevent about eight thousand English fans from traveling to Istanbul, where the final is now scheduled. Turkey is seen as a hotbed of the corona virus. The country went into a complete lockdown for the first time last week and has the highest number of corona cases in all of Europe.
The offer from Aston Villa is remarkable, as the final of the billion dollar ball will be completed in three weeks. UEFA therefore prefers a final in Istanbul, where various preparations have been made in recent weeks to ensure that the final battle runs smoothly. In addition, Villa Park does not meet UEFA standards to host such a match. For example, various areas in the stadium would have to be adapted, including the press room and the place where the cameras should be placed. In addition, journalists and UEFA employees must be subject to mandatory quarantine when returning from the UK.
At the moment it seems that only a change in the policy of the Turkish government could lead to a different playing city. For example, if it is decided that it is unsafe or impractical to organize the match in Istanbul, given the current corona situation. From 17 May it will again be allowed to schedule foreign travel from the United Kingdom. The British government will announce which countries are eligible as final destinations in the coming days.
UEFA expects to receive a total of eight thousand English supporters in Istanbul at the Champions League final. Chelsea and Manchester City will both receive four thousand tickets in that case. The Atatürk Olympic Stadium normally can accommodate up to 76,000 spectators, but due to the corona crisis, that number will not be reached by a long shot. Despite this, it is possible for a limited number of Chelsea and Manchester City supporters to cheer on their favorite club in Turkey.
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