Champions League final may be staged outside Turkey

Ataturk Stadium Istanbul is on the verge of losing out again following UK Government's decision against Turkey. (Photo credit: UEFA)

News breaking out from multiple outlets say there are chances that the UEFA Champions League final billed to take place on the 29^th of this month at Istanbul Turkey may have another venue following England’s decision to place Turkey on it’s no fly list.

UEFA insists they only got the information about UK Government’s decision on Friday and will now access their options and with both teams in the final coming from the English premiership, a stadium in England might be the go-to.

The UK travel advisory has said anyone traveling to the UK from Turkey will have to isolate for 10 days owing to the spike in COVID rates from the country and strongly advise anyone from the UK against heading to the north.

Last season’s final between Bayern Munich and PSG was moved from Istanbul to Lisbon due to same reasons and it now seems like the Turkish stadium will miss out again for the second year running and again due to same reason.

About 8000 fans from both sides had been expected to travel down to Ataturk Stadium and with latest developments, they will have to wait and see.

On the alternative, Aston Villa’s Villa Park is being tipped by he UK government to host the final as the official standby stadium and considering the location of both sides in the finals, it would be a fair ground.

Chelsea will have good reasons to wish the stadium change for the final after the infamous John Terry slip in the 2008 finals at Istanbul where Manchester United went on to become champions at the expense of the Blues.