UEFA told to change the Champions League venue should Chelsea and Manchester City book the final spot.
The Public health experts are asking UEFA to see reason and not let thousands of supporters travel across Europe to attend the Champions League final in Istanbul, where covid cases are sky-high.
With Turkey under total lockdown, UEFA is expected to approve that visiting fans will be allowed to attend the final at the Ataturk Stadium in Turkey.
English heavyweights Chelsea and Manchester City seem well placed to advance to the finals slated for May 29.
If this happens, English fans would travel a 4,000-mile round trip to Turkey, a country with one of the highest average daily infection rates in Europe.
Turkish premier President Tayyip Erdogan has placed a ‘full lockdown’ of the country beginning today, which will continue until May 17, to push the level of infection down, with schools closed and travel limited.
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But there is still an exemption for foreign tourists as the countries attempts to hold on to a crucial source of revenue.
Professor Keith Neal, a specialist in public health at the University of Nottingham said:
“It’s crazy and unnecessary to have the game in Turkey.
‘I think there is going to be serious problems. Turkey is a Covid hot zone and it is likely to remain so in May. You cannot see it being better in five weeks.
‘And the disease rate in Istanbul itself, like all major population centres, will be higher. UEFA have not realised they have a problem.
‘People will be travelling in crowded planes, passing through crowded airports and spending time in bars and restaurants. It is too risky.
‘I would move the game. Move it to England where you can manage it better. You could move it to England for the two English teams.”
While the number of available tickets has not been verified, UEFA reportedly told clubs at the quarter-final stage that 9,000 supporters were anticipated to attend the final. However, it is not the management of supporters in the stadium that is causing concern.
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