25/04 - 20:00
FC Porto’s Estádio do Dragão will host the Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea in two weeks' time, with Uefa changing the venue from Turkey’s Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadium in Istanbul.
The clubs will be given 6,000 tickets for supporters to enter the 50,033 seater stadium, with Portugal earning the chance due to it being one of the few countries on the UK’s green list for international travel, while Turkey is on the red list.
Uefa were reportedly favouring Wembley for the final, but the issue was complicated due to the Championship play-off final being scheduled for the same day, whilst around 2,000 staff, sponsors, VIPs and foreign media would have to quarantine upon arrival in the UK.
A Uefa statement read: "After a year of fans being locked out of stadiums, UEFA thought that everything needed to be done to ensure the supporters of the two finalist teams could attend.
"UEFA discussed moving the match to England but, despite exhaustive efforts on the part of the Football Association and the authorities, it was not possible to achieve the necessary exemptions from UK quarantine arrangements.
"The Portuguese authorities and the FPF stepped in and worked quickly and seamlessly with UEFA to offer a fitting venue for the final and, as Portugal is a green list destination for England, fans and players attending the final will not have to quarantine on their return home.
"The decision does not come without big regret for the work that the Turkish football authorities have done over the last two years to ensure the successful staging of the final in Istanbul. UEFA is grateful also for their continued partnership and cooperative spirit as well as the understanding they showed in this particular circumstance and will urgently look into future opportunities for the city of Istanbul."
