Champions League Rumors: Wembley To Host Finals After British Travel Ban On Turkey

The all-English UEFA Champions League finals between Chelsea and Manchester City might be played in London after all, according to multiple reports.

The match originally scheduled to be played in Istanbul, Turkey on May 29 is facing a few hurdles, after the host country saw a surge in COVID-19 cases that has led to a lockdown.

The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already classifies Turkey under Level 4, or "high level" of COVID-19.

The country averaged more than 22,000 recorded cases daily for the past week.

The British government has placed Turkey in its "red list," which means tourists essentially cannot travel to the region, unless deemed extremely important.

"I'm afraid we are having to put Turkey on the red list. This will have a number of ramifications. First of all, it does mean with regards to the Champions League, fans should not travel to Turkey," British transport secretary Grant Shapps said, per Sky Sports.

"The FA are in discussions with UEFA on this. We are very open to hosting the final but it is ultimately a decision for UEFA. Red countries are those which should not be visited except in the most extreme of circumstances."

The measure will take effect starting on May 17. Those who even intend to travel should be quarantined after before heading back home.

The development is quite counter-productive from the initial goal of the Champions League final hosts to gather up to 25,000 spectators.

From a practical standpoint, the average fan will have to shell out more money to cover expenses for quarantine as well as health and safety protocols.

Tipped to be the replacement venue is the 90,000-seater Wembley Stadium in London, which houses the England national football team.

A match without leaving home would be the best resort, and British authorities are already working on the matter.

The Athletic noted that "delicate negotiations" are already underway according to government minister Michael Gove.

The EFL is even willing to move a Championship play-off final scheduled at Wembley on the same day as the Champions League match to a different venue—with Villa Park one being considered.

But a Turkish Football Federation spokesman quoted by The Athletic is "insistent" about hosting the final originally set at the Ataturk Stadium.

Manchester City beat Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, while Chelsea bested defending La Liga champion Real Madrid to set up the all-Premier League title showdown.

The two sides recently met for the domestic league, with Thomas Tuchel's club edging Pep Guardiola's crew in a pulsating 2-1 victory.

Marcos Alonso's goal in stoppage time proved to be the difference. Rakeem Sterling opened the scoring at the 44th minute before Hakim Ziyech equalized for Chelsea past the hour mark in the second half.