The Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea on the 29th of May will take place in Porto with 6,000 fans from each club in attendance
The Champions League game has now been moved from Turkey to the Portuguese city of Porto as a result of coronavirus restrictions.
Portugal is on England’s green list so players and fans can attend without having to quarantine on their return home. Turkey is on the red list.
The final had been due to be staged at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
“To deprive supporters of the chance to see the match in person was not an option and I am delighted that this compromise has been found,” said Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.
This comes after a Spanish court has said within a preliminary ruling that FIFA and UEFA should not prevent European football clubs from taking part in the European Super League.
Uefa, UK government officials and the Football Association met to talk about Wembley hosting the game but no agreement could be reached on quarantine exemptions for sponsors, VIPs and broadcasters.
“Fans have had to suffer more than 12 months without the ability to see their teams live and reaching a Champions League final is the pinnacle of club football,” added Ceferin.
“After the year that fans have endured, it is not right that they don’t have the chance to watch their teams in the biggest game of the season.”
Both Chelsea and Manchester City say they are in discussions with Uefa and other stakeholders over ticketing and travel arrangements.
City say they will offer fans a day-trip travel package from Manchester to Porto for the 20:00 BST match.
The sale of tickets to the general public will start on the 24th of May 2021 at 13:00 BST.
It is the second successive year the final has been held in Portugal with Lisbon the location for the delayed final stages of last season’s competition, won by Bayern Munich.
The final capacity limit at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto is still to be fixed.
This comes after twelve of the leading football clubs in Europe have agreed upon establishing a new Super League, despite the widespread criticism of these plans. The new league has already been criticised by politicians, former players, and other football bodies.
Ceferin acknowledged that the UK government’s decision to place Turkey on the red list for travel was made in good faith but said it also left the governing body with “a major challenge”.
“The difficulties of moving the final are great and the FA and the authorities made every effort to try to stage the match in England, and I would like to thank them for their work in trying to make it happen,” he added.
“The Turkish Football Federation and the authorities have always been reliable partners of Uefa and I hope to be in Istanbul and Turkey for a Champions League final and many other events in the near future.
“I hope the final will be a symbol of hope at the re-emergence of Europe from a difficult period and that the fans who travel to the game will once again be able to lend their voices to showcase this final as the best in club football.”
