UEFA has discussed with the Portuguese Football Federation the possibility of hosting the Champions League final this year instead of Istanbul, Britain’s Daily Mail reported on Friday.

According to the report, UEFA fears possible unrest in Turkey due to the upcoming presidential elections, the second round of which is expected on May 28 if necessary. The Champions League final is scheduled for June 10.

In this regard, according to the source, the leadership of the organization held informal negotiations with representatives of the Portuguese Football Federation regarding the possible transfer of the final of the competition from Turkey.

At the same time, the Daily Mail indicates, citing sources in UEFA, that at present the confederation insists on holding the final of the tournament in Turkey and its transfer to another country is not planned.

UEFA has twice postponed the Champions League final from Istanbul. In 2020, the organization decided to play all matches from the quarterfinals onwards in Lisbon due to the coronavirus pandemic. With Manchester City and Chelsea reaching the Champions League final in 2021, UEFA once again moved the competition’s final match from Istanbul to Porto as Turkey was placed on the list of countries from which the Brits would be quarantined upon their return.

Earlier this year, there were concerns about a seismic sequence in Turkey after the February 6 earthquakes, but fears of possible clashes due to the dual election battle now prevail.

Coincidentally, at the same time, the Hellenic Football Federation is still looking for a venue to host the Greek Cup Final, scheduled for May 24, with two clubs originating from Istanbul, namely AEK and PAOK.

Source: Daily Mail