UEFA release statement on Champions League final plans ahead of Man City vs Real Madrid
manchestereveningnews.co.ukUEFA insist the Champions League final will take place in Istanbul as planned, despite the country heading into a politically-charged election period from this weekend.
There had been speculation that the governing body had been looking at contingency plans if the election result provoked tensions within Turkey, with reports they had spoken to the Portuguese FA about moving the final to Lisbon at short notice.
But UEFA have denied that and claim the final will definitely take place at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, with the fixture moved away from Turkey's biggest city due to Covid in 2020 and 2021. ALSO READ: Haaland thanks City players and Guardiola after FWA award "The 2023 UEFA Champions League final will take place in Istanbul as scheduled, on 10 June 2023," said a UEFA statement. "UEFA has no discussions to the contrary with any political institutions, governments or national football associations." The Turkish presidential election begins with a first round of voting on Sunday and current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could see his two-decade reign ended.
Challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu is currently polling ahead of Erdogan. The vote could go to a run-off which would be held at the end of May and that could inflame tensions within the country, but UEFA have no plans to move the game away from Istanbul.
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