UEFA considers 'all options' for Champions League format
UEFA is studying "all of the options" for the format of the season's interrupted Champions League, amid reports on Friday that European football's governing body is considering moving the ultimate from its scheduled venue in Istanbul.
The Turkish city was because of host the ultimate this Saturday at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, however the tournament was suspended in mid-March at the last-16 stage due to the coronavirus pandemic.
UEFA still hopes to summarize the competition by the end of August, but with major changes to the format likely and games set to be played behind closed doors.
"We are considering all the options regarding the calendar and the format of your competition in the working group relating to the clubs, leagues and national associations," a UEFA spokesman told AFP.
"No decision has been taken yet but there must be at the Executive Committee meeting on June 17."
According to a UEFA document seen by AFP, August 29 could possibly be chosen as the brand new date for the final.
The New York Times reported Friday that the final will be moved from Turkey but that Istanbul could possibly be chosen as host of another final, when it's safe for fans to visit from abroad in large numbers.
Turkey, a country of 83 million, has so far recorded 4,461 coronavirus-related deaths and almost 161,000 confirmed cases.
The country happens to be in the process of loosening lockdown measures introduced to halt the spread of the virus and its own domestic football season is defined to resume on June 12.
Changes may be designed to the format of the Europa League, the ultimate of which was because of be played in the Polish city of Gdansk this week.
