UEFA issue statement on Champions League final venue as Man City, Real Madrid, Milan, and Inter await fate | OneFootball

European football’s governing body UEFA have issued a statement on the venue for the 2023 Champions League final following a report from the Mail this week.

It was reported on Thursday evening that UEFA had ‘held talks’ regarding the possibility of moving the 2023 Champions League final to Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz, if there was to be unrest in Istanbul following the presidential Turkish election.

The report highlighted that UEFA would be ‘extremely reluctant’ to switch the final again, having twice moved the occasion from Istanbul due to Covid in 2020 and 2021.

Although – as per the Mail – in an attempt to cover all bases, it was suggested that an informal approach had been made to the Portuguese Football Federation, should concerns over supporter safety arise in the days leading up the showpiece final next month.

However, following that report, UEFA have now issued the following release regarding the Champions League final – which is due to take place next month.

“The 2023 UEFA Champions League final will take place in Istanbul as scheduled, on 10 June 2023,” the statement read. “UEFA has no discussions to the contrary with any political institutions, governments or national football associations.”

Manchester City and Real Madrid’s semi-final contest remains finely poised following the first-leg in the Spanish capital, with goals from Vinicius Jr and Kevin De Bruyne bringing a 1-1 scoreline into the second portion of 90 minutes at the Etihad Stadium next week.

As for the other semi-final tie, goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have Inter holding a 0-2 advantage into their second meeting with city rivals Milan at the San Siro, as Italy are guaranteed a representative in the final of this year’s competition.