TheCable

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged UEFA to switch this season’s all-English Champions League final to the United Kingdom.

The 2020/21 UCL final is scheduled for May 29, at Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey — the same venue where Liverpool beat AC Milan in 2005.

According to UK SUN, Johnson’s plea is coming after the coronavirus-ravaged Turkey was put on the UK government’s foreign travel “red list”.

In the past weeks, Turkey has been among the most affected countries globally in terms of daily COVID-19 cases, prompting a nationwide lockdown this month until May 17.

Grant Shapps, British transport minister, had explained that travel to “red list” countries was not allowed except for in “the most extreme circumstances”.

According to him, anyone returning from a “red list” country has to enter and pay for compulsory hotel quarantine.

“It does mean fans should not travel to Turkey. The FA are in discussions with Uefa already,” Shapps said.

“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.”

Speaking on the development, Johnson said: “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.”

If approved by UEFA, it means up to 15,000 supporters would be permitted to attend the final in England with Wembley, St James’ Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and The Emirates in the frame.

Manchester City qualified for the final for the first time after a 4-1 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain. Chelsea, on the other hand, reached a third final having overcome Real Madrid over two legs.