Champions League final close to being confirmed for Portugal as UK Government refuses to allow Uefa’s VIP guests attend

UEFA are set to announce the Champions League Final will be held in Porto - leaving Chelsea and Manchester City fans scrambling for flights AND tickets.

Three days of discussion between Uefa and the Government failed to resolve the issues that stood between Euro chiefs and their preferred venue of Wembley.

And with the Portuguese FA telling Uefa they want to use Porto’s Estadio do Dragao rather than Lisbon’s bigger Stadium of Light, it means few as 3,500 fans of the two Prem sides will be handed the chance to see their team in the biggest game in European club football.

SunSport revealed Uefa decided to move the May 29 game from Istanbul after Turkey was placed on the Government’s travel “red list”.

PM Boris Johnson offered to host the game in this country and Uefa chiefs identified Wembley as their stadium of choice.

But Uefa’s requirement for relaxed border rules to allow nearly 2,000 overseas visitors and guests to attend the game have been the sticking point in discussions which began on Sunday.

Government and scientific chiefs are reluctant to allow so many into the country without quarantine requirements of some sort.

The UK was ready to give the okay for some media and broadcast outlets as well as “essential Uefa personnel” to be allowed into the country.

LESS THAN 13,000 FANS EXPECTED

But the demands for access for sponsors and VIP guests - including football chiefs from around the world - appear to have proved a step too far.

It means Uefa is close to confirming it will switch to its back-up option of Portugal, which hosted last season’s “final eight” tournament in Lisbon.

But while Benfica’s home can seat more than 65,000, the Portuguese FA is proposing Porto’s home, with a full-house capacity of just 50,000, as its chosen stadium venue.

Currently, fans are still barred from grounds in the country, although the rules are expected to be relaxed.

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Yet it is believed the Dragao will be allowed to have just 25 per cent of its capacity, meaning less than 13,000 fans in total.

That will potentially mean just 3,500 supporters of both Chelsea and City allowed to travel to see the game, although Portugal’s “green list” status means they will not have to quarantine on their return.

A final decision is expected on Wednesday but unless there is a sudden shift from either Uefa or the Government it seems that the Wembley option - which would have seen an attendance of up to 22,500 - is increasingly unlikely to be adopted.

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