English fans should be BANNED from travelling to the Champions League final in Istanbul, insists MP

Manchester City and their opponents in the Champions League final will receive up to 4,000 tickets each for the match to be played in Turkey, according to reports.

UEFA and the Turkish authorities are drawing up plans to accommodate 25,000 spectators at the Ataturk Stadium for the match on May 29.

If approved, the stadium in Istanbul will host one-third of its 76,000-capacity.

But staging the game will make a mockery of Britain’s covid planning according to an MP and public health experts, and English fans should not be allowed to attend the Istanbul showpiece because of a high coronavirus infection rate in Turkey, 

And if Chelsea go through to the final on May 29 following their match at Stamford Bridge with Real Madrid tonight, the showpiece should be moved to this country on safety grounds, they claim.

City eased their way to their first Champions League final with a stunning 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium, last night, to go with their 2-1 win in France.

Manchester City fans celebrate their team’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain last night

City put on a fantastic display to reach their first Champions League final in Istanbul

City put on a fantastic display to reach their first Champions League final in Istanbul

City are on their way to Istanbul, where the Champions League final will be played on May 29

City are on their way to Istanbul, where the Champions League final will be played on May 29

Within hours of the match finishing, the club asked supporters to express their interest in attending the final at the 76,000-seat Ataturk Stadium.

UEFA said last week ‘limited numbers’ will be allowed to attend the match. The European football governing body is working with the Turkish authorities on how many spectators will be admitted to the stadium, which will include the number of travelling fans permitted.

UEFA reportedly told clubs at the quarter-final stage that 9,000 fans were expected to attend the final. An announcement is expected shortly.

However, Turkey, which is currently in a ‘full lockdown’ until May 17, has suffered a devastating spike of coronavirus, with a peak of 60,000 cases and 300 deaths a day in April and rates of infection remain thirteen times higher than the UK.

Chelsea are fancied by the bookmakers to make the Champions League final, too

And Manchester City are already there after stunning displays against Paris Saint-Germain

Chelsea are tipped to join Manchester City in the Champions League final in Istanbul

In addition, scientists say that limited capacity to analyse the virus in Turkey means there is little reliable information about the variants that may be circulating there.

Vaccine mister Nadhim Zahawi refused to be drawn on the prospect of English fans travelling to Turkey for the match when questioned on BBC Breakfast today.

But Clive Efford, MP for Eltham, was clear. ‘To allow English fans to travel to and from Turkey would make a mockery of all the measures we have taken over recent months during lockdown,’ he said.

‘It is a risk not worth taking at this stage, particularly because we are concerned about new variants emerging and whether vaccines are effective against them,’ added, Efford, who is a qualified FA coach and life-long Millwall fan. ‘And if it is two English clubs in the final it makes sense to move it from Istanbul.’

The Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul is due to host the Champions League final this year

The Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul is due to host the Champions League final this year

Turkish premier President Tayyip Erdogan ordered a ‘full lockdown’ of the country starting on Thursday last week, which will last until May 17, in an attempt to drive the level of infection down, with schools closed and travel restricted. But there is still an exemption for international tourists as the countries tries to hold on to a crucial source of revenue.

Turkey will be desperate to stage the game with fans to show the world that it is open for business, after coronavirus wrecked the tourist season last summer and politicians in the country fear European destinations will steal a march as beaches, bars and restaurants reopen.

Clive Efford MP is concerned about fans travelling to Turkey for the game

Clive Efford MP is concerned about fans travelling to Turkey for the game

The foreign cash that tourists spend is critical to offset Turkey’s heavy foreign debt, but revenues plunged 65% last year when the pandemic first hit, according to Reuters.

Turkey is hoping to host 30 million foreigners this year, twice as many as last, if the lockdown succeeds in lowering daily covid cases to below 5,000 from near 30,000 in recent days.

While sympathetic to Turkey’s situation, Efford believes that cannot influence decision making.

‘The decision should be based on what is safe and in everyone’s interests,’ added the Labour politician. ‘[Turkey’s situation] cannot be a factor. It is the risk we have to consider.

‘There should be no travelling fans from the UK. It is a tragedy, but that is the situation we are in.

‘It absolutely makes sense that if it is not going to be the huge spectacle it has always been then it should be played out at Wembley and Istanbul should be offered the final at a later date.’

Last year’s final was also scheduled for the Ataturk Stadium, before the latter stages of the blue riband competition were moved to Spain, where it was played in front of empty stands.

UEFA is said to be confident that fans will be allowed to attend the Champions League final

UEFA is said to be confident that fans will be allowed to attend the Champions League final

Public health experts agree that the game in Turkey poses an unnecessary risk.

‘It’s crazy and unnecessary,’ Professor Keith Neal, an expert in public health at the University of Nottingham previously told Sportsmail.

‘Turkey is a covid hot zone and it is likely to remain so in May.

‘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.’

Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine at the University of Norwich also told Sportsmail the risks of playing in Istanbul were too high.

Turkey has thirteen times more confirmed cases of covid compared to the UK

Turkey has thirteen times more confirmed cases of covid compared to the UK

Countries are also preparing to allow fans to attend Euro 2020 matches across Europe in June

Countries are also preparing to allow fans to attend Euro 2020 matches across Europe in June 

‘So, from a global perspective holding big international events where people will probably not adhere to the guidance because they are overseas and there will probably be a lot of alcohol around does not seem a good idea,’ he said.

‘For me, I would not consider it a worthwhile risk. Even though cases are dropping it is still going to be pretty high. There is no way Turkey is going to get it down to anywhere near the UK by then.’

Turkey’s lockdown is due to end on May 17, which is also the earliest date that UK residents will be allowed to travel abroad, under the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Currently all overseas holidays are banned for UK residents.

However, government ministers have spoken positively about travel restrictions being eased in May with the development of the NHS app, which would act as a covid passport to demonstrate a person has been vaccinated against the virus, or has received a negative test.

Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain in last year's Champions League final but with no fans

Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain in last year’s Champions League final but with no fans

 

When asked on BBC Breakfast today about travel to Istanbul to watch Manchester City, or Chelsea if they go through, the government’s vaccine minister, Nadhim Zahawi, would not be drawn.

‘Later this week the Transport Secretary [Grant Shapps] will be stating what he has already announced which is the traffic light system,’ he said. ‘We have 40 countries on the red list… There will be the amber list and green list. Grant Shapps will be setting this out later this week.’

Under the plans, countries will be designated a colour, red, amber, or green, which will determine the quarantine requirements on the return to the UK.

EUROPA LEAGUE

UEFA and the Polish authorities have finalised plans to allow 9,500 fans to attend the Europa League final in Gdansk, next month. 

The showpiece, due to take place at the 41,000-seat Gdansk Stadium on May 26, will be played in front of a quarter-full stadium with 2,000 tickets allocated to each club.

It raises the prospect of Manchester United and Arsenal playing out a European final in front of supporters, provided both teams can emerge from tough semi-final ties.

Experts spoken to by Sportsmail are less concerned about the health risks posed by playing in Poland in front of fans, compared to Turkey.

Poland has less than half the number of new Covid infections each day compared to Turkey, at 151 per million compared to 370 per million people, as reported by John Hopkins University. This is a similar number to Spain. Poland has also administered a first dose of covid vaccine to 24 per cent of its population, Spain has delivered one dose to 26%, compared to 17% in Turkey.

‘Red countries’ would require returning travellers to quarantine in a government-approved hotel, while an amber rating would mean people have to self-isolate at home for 10 days.

Dr Julian Tang, a virologist and Honorary Associate Professor in the Department of Respiratory Sciences at the University of Leicester, told Sportsmail there were risks associated with the match, which were heightened by the fact that Turkey does not extensively sequence the virus, so the number and type of variants in the country is not known.

Added to that he said 80% of people do not self-isolate properly, when they return to the UK, which creates the risk of spreading the disease.

However, he said football fans will make up a small part of the total travel taking place to and from the UK after May 17.

‘The bigger picture is that the UK is going to open up to foreign travel by the end of this month. If you are going to open up, you are going to have to deal with these things.’

Flights are currently operating between the UK and Turkey. All passengers aged six years and above are required to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure. And there is currently no requirement to self-isolate once in Turkey.

Last month, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin removed restrictions on attendance at matches and this month travel bans on fans were also lifted, with host countries left to decide on safe limits.

UEFA told The Athletic last week that the Turkish lockdown would not affect the final.

‘The Champions League final will take place in Istanbul on May 29 with a limited number of spectators and we are assured that the temporary lockdown which is in force until May 17 should not have any impact on the match.

‘UEFA will continue to work closely with the Turkish Football Federation and the local and national authorities to stage the match safely.’

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin prepared way for fans to attend Champions League final

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin prepared way for fans to attend Champions League final

Graphic shows how the NHS  app could work as a covid passport using immunity and testing

Graphic shows how the NHS  app could work as a covid passport using immunity and testing

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