Portugal to host Champions League final

Portugal is set to host the Champions League final after Uefa failed to receive the guarantees of exemptions it wants if it is to move the game to Wembley.

Uefa, UK government officials and the Football Association met on Monday to discuss moving the game between Chelsea and Manchester City from Istanbul.

Uefa has decided it will be moved after Turkey was put on England’s red travel list meaning fans cannot travel. Portugal is on the green list so fans would be allowed to attend on May 29.

Porto’s Estadio do Dragao is expected to be named as the venue on Thursday because Uefa would prefer not to stage the match in Lisbon, which hosted last year’s final.

European football’s governing body believes holding the match in Portugal will make it easier to gain access for sponsors and broadcasters, who would need to be compensated if they were unable to attend the game.

However, Uefa is still not in a position to confirm the switch, which would see Istanbul given the 2023 final, having originally been due to host last year before the move to Lisbon.

The match could still be played at Wembley, but it would require a major shift from the UK government, which has so far failed to reach an agreement with Uefa.

Travellers from England to green-list countries must follows rules before departure but do not have to quarantine on their return. (BBC Sport)