SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 9 hrs 1 min
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Aston Villa to be questioned over Champions League final host offer

:Headline: Aston Villa to be questioned over Champions League final host offer:
The all-Premier League encounter between Manchester City and Chelsea is scheduled to take place in Istanbul.
Sports Mole

Aston Villa are set to be questioned on reports they have offered to host the Champions League final amid ongoing doubts about the suitability of the match being played in Turkey.

The all-Premier League encounter between Manchester City and Chelsea is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 29 at Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul.

But, with Turkey currently under lockdown following an alarming surge in coronavirus cases, MPs and health experts are among those calling for the showpiece event to be switched to England to prevent seemingly unnecessary travel and limit the risk of further transmission.

While UEFA has insisted the venue will not change, reports emerged on Thursday that Villa Park would be made available as an alternative.

Villa have yet to respond to those suggestions but manager Dean Smith is likely to be asked about the subject when he faces the media on Friday morning to preview his side's weekend game against Manchester United.

On Thursday afternoon, the West Midlands club fuelled rumours by tweeting aerial footage of their stadium, accompanied by a heart emoji.

The PA news agency has approached Villa for comment.

UEFA is on Friday due to announce further details on ticketing, travel and capacity for the final.

Istanbul was due to host the 2020 Champions League final before it was played behind closed doors in Lisbon because of the impact of the global pandemic.

PA understands that at this stage only a request from the Turkish government would prompt the match to be moved elsewhere for a second successive year.

Staging the game in England would pose a number of logistical issues, including visitors – such as delegates from national associations – being required to to self-isolate for up to 10 days upon arrival.

UEFA would also have to inspect and approve the replacement stadium.

Wembley is almost certainly out of the running as it is set to host the Sky Bet Championship play-off final on May 29.

If current plans remain, and Turkey is not added to the British Government's 'green list' of countries when England's international travel ban is lifted on May 17, UK residents attending the final would be required to self-isolate for up to 10 days on their return.

Chelsea booked their spot in the biggest match in club football on Wednesday by overcoming Real Madrid 3-1 on aggregate, while City defeated Paris St Germain the previous evening, winning 4-1 over two legs.

Talk of two all-English European finals was extinguished on Thursday evening after Arsenal were unable to emulate Manchester United in progressing from the Europa League semi-finals.

Spanish side Villarreal defeated the Gunners 2-1 on aggregate and will play United – who beat Roma 8-5 over two games – for the trophy in Gdansk, Poland, on Wednesday, May 26.

Up to 9,500 supporters could attend that match at the Stadion Miejski, with the finalists each receiving 2,000 tickets and a further 2,000 tickets available to the general public.

Remaining tickets will be allocated to the local organising committee, UEFA and national associations, commercial partners and broadcasters.

body check tags ::

amp_article__446352 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-05-07 07:29:05:
html db last update - 2021-05-07 07:29:05 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Dean Smith

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:
AG
Read Next:
Aston Villa offer to host Champions League final?
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Dean Smith Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Aston Villa offer to host Champions League final?
Nine-figure sale? Arsenal, Chelsea learn 'mammoth' Isak asking price
Electric Enzo steals the show as Chelsea triumph in Leicester
Aston Villa to rival Newcastle for Kieran Tierney?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Will Alisson, Trent return? Liverpool injury list for Real Madrid clash

1

WA

Monday's Serie A predictions including Empoli vs. Udinese

2

MS

Can Chelsea exploit Barcelona's financial issues to secure defensive duo?

NEW

3

CC

Ferrari downplays drama after Leclerc's Sainz fury

NEW

4

FD

Mbappe, Valverde, Bellingham register as professional Real Madrid overcome Leganes

5

MV

More Estevao wizardry: Chelsea prospect helps send Palmeiras top of Brasileiro

6

ME

Triple boost? Real Madrid could have three players back vs. Liverpool

7

TB

Preview: Norwich vs. Plymouth - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PN

Preview: Bristol Rovers vs. Blackpool - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PB

Preview: Man City vs. Feyenoord - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PM


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .