Champions League Final Potential Increases For Wembley Venue Shift

Seating at Wembley Stadium It appears a possibility that the three EFL play off finals could be rearranged to allow the all English final to be played at Wembley. UEFA is set to make a decision by Wednesday whether to engage the switch, due to the travel restrictions currently in place.

After the government announcement that Turkey has been added to the ‘red list’ of high‑risk countries in the midst of an alarming surge in coronavirus cases, calls have intensified for a change of venue for Manchester City game with Chelsea, scheduled to be played there on Saturday, May 29th.

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Wembley is due to host the Sky Bet Championship play off final on May 29th, with the League One and League Two equivalents arranged for the following two days. However, it is understood the EFL is ready consider all options, including altering the arrangements for those fixtures to accommodate the Champions League final, if UEFA make an approach, and, if so, this could mean the matches being played on different dates, or at alternative venues.

Ultimately the decision lies with UEFA, but if the headline final is moved to Wembley it would require the government to be flexible in allowing individuals into England, given the various stakeholders that would be expected to attend. Possible quarantine exemptions may come under consideration if so.

Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, said at a recent press conference that the British Government was ‘very open to hosting the final’ and that the Football Association was in discussions with UEFA, whilst also stating that fans should not travel to Istanbul. He also said:

“I’m afraid we are having to put Turkey on the red list. This will have a number of ramifications. First of all, it does mean with the regards to the Champions League, fans should not travel to Turkey.

“The FA are in discussions with UEFA on this. We are very open to hosting the final but it is ultimately a decision for UEFA.

“Red countries are those which should not be visited except in the most extreme of circumstances.”

View of the pitch as seen from inside the Wembley Stadium