Champions League Final Won’t Be Moved
UEFA has ruled out moving this season’s Champions League Final away from Rome despite security fears prompted by the stabbing of an English fan this week.
The European governing body has rejected calls to move the flagship game away from the Italian city despite an Arsenal fan being stabbed outside the stadium before the club’s Champions League tie against Roma this week – a match the English club won on penalties.
UEFA cited logistical problems in switching the match, due to take place on 27th May, as the primary reason behind retaining Rome as the venue.
‘We are two months from the event, so it’s not really possible,’ said William Gaillard, special advisor to UEFA president Michel Platini.
Gaillard said he believes the absence of any Italian clubs in the competition after Juventus, Inter Milan and Roma were knocked out by Chelsea, United and Arsenal this week will help the Italian police.
‘Roma has now become a defacto neutral venue for the final which should make life easier. Wednesday’s incident gives us food for thought, but we are confident we will have everything in place to ensure a safe final for all fans.
‘This was a regrettable incident and any incident like this is one too many. We’ve been speaking to the Italian authorities regularly in the run up to final and we will be asking them to step up their efforts in light of this event. We aren’t thinking of moving the final at this stage.’
