UEFA chief Ceferin open for fans to attend delayed UCL & UEL games in August

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin leaves the door open for fans to potentially attend the condensed Champions League and Europa League games in August.

It was finally confirmed today that the tournaments will be completed in a Final Eight format, with the Champions League Round of 16 second legs on August 7-8, the quarter-finals on August 12-15, semi-finals on August 18-19 and Final on August 23.

All of those are expected to be held in Lisbon.

The Europa League will run from August 5-6 and the Final on August 21, spread out between Cologne, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Gelsenkirchen.

“I am delighted that we are able to resume almost all of our competitions. I am confident that we will not have to endure the fans’ absence for long and that they will be allowed into stadiums sooner rather than later,” said Ceferin.

“UEFA took a bold decision when it decided to postpone EURO 2020. But in doing so, we created the space which has allowed domestic club competitions across the continent to resume, where possible, and play to a conclusion. While the game has suffered huge difficulties as a result of the pandemic, those blows would have landed much harder if we had not shown leadership in those early days.”

As the Final Eight tournaments are localised in countries relatively unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is hoped some fans will be allowed into the arenas.

“I am delighted that we are able to resume almost all of our competitions. I am confident that we will not have to endure the fans' absence for long and that they will be allowed into stadiums sooner rather than later.

“I don't know if there will be local fans, those from different clubs or no fans. If the decision was made now it would be without fans, but games are in August.”