The chances of the Champions League final being staged at Wembley appear to have receded.
UEFA representatives met virtually with UK government officials from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on Monday morning to discuss moving the all-English final to Wembley from Istanbul, after the government's decision on Friday to place Turkey on its high-risk 'red list’ for international travel.
Sources described the meeting as cordial and helpful and stated that the ball remains in UEFA’s court.
However, some of the assurances UEFA is looking for – particularly around quarantine-free travel for sponsors and other VIPs coming into the UK – are not straightforward for UK authorities to deal with at a time when border controls remain so strict amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Discussions are ongoing, but one other option under consideration could be moving the match to Portugal.
The country hosted the final stages of last season’s Champions League last August, and is on the UK government’s ‘green list’ for international travel.
This would mean players, staff and supporters of Chelsea and Manchester City could return to the UK without needing to quarantine.
