The Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea has been moved from Istanbul to Portugal, UEFA has announced, to allow 6,000 fans from each club to attend.
UEFA has been forced to move the match from its original stadium in Istanbul due to travel restrictions between the UK and Turkey.
Shortly after the identity of the two finalists became known, the British government placed Turkey on its travel red list, meaning that the fans would have to be quarantined for ten days upon their return to the UK.
UEFA, which had allocated 4,000 tickets for fans of each team, was forced to change the venue. The British government and the Football Association proposed Wembley as an alternative.
However, the British government would not allow a special exemption to quarantine rules for journalists, sponsors and other attendees from abroad.
Portugal will grant these exemptions. It is on the UK’s green list of countries where quarantine is not required upon return.
Therefore, Manchester City and Chelsea fans will be able to travel to Porto to attend the final, as well as media and sponsors.
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