UEFA opted to move the showpiece event to Portugal as the country is one of few places Britons can travel to easily amid Covid-19 restrictions.
Turkey, on the other hand, is on the UK’s travel red list, meaning people are being actively discouraged from visiting the country.
The British government had been open to holding the final in England in order to prevent unnecessary travel for fans, but an agreement could not be reached over the necessary exemptions from UK quarantine arrangements, according to UEFA.
The final will be played at the Estadio Dragao on May 29.
“Fans have had to suffer more than twelve months without the ability to see their teams live and reaching a Champions League final is the pinnacle of club football,” said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin in a statement.
“To deprive those supporters of the chance to see the match in person was not an option and I am delighted that this compromise has been found.
UEFA said 6,000 fans of each club would be able to attend the final.
More to follow…
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