Many fans of Real Madrid and Liverpool have been wondering why this year's Champions League final is in Kiev, a city which is far away for teams in western Europe and a city where is has been difficult to organise accommodation, as was also the case in Cardiff last year.
The venue has proved so problematic that UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin even admitted more than 1,000 Real Madrid fans have returned tickets, while it has also been reported that a total of 2,500 briefs were still unsold by Thursday afternoon.
It wasn't his choice for this final to be held in Ukraine, as Kiev was selected while Michel Platini was still the president of the continent's governing body.
This is the penultimate venue that UEFA's Executive Committee picked under his watch, with the UEFA Super Cup in Tallin being the final one.
Platini tried during his presidency to bring these high-profile matches to all corners of the continent, not least with the 12-city Euro 2020 tournament, but Ceferin wants to give these finals to cities better equipped to handle such an influx of football fans.
The Slovenian wants the Champions League final to be a festival and he wants more a more stringent selection process.
UEFA will demand certain guarantees of the organising committees for finals, although they cannot prevent hotels from cancelling bookings or from multiplying prices tenfold.
They can block-book some hotels for the teams, but they cannot control all hotels of a city.
Access to the host city has to be considered too, as it has been difficult to find routes to Kiev, while three flights from Liverpool were delayed on Thursday due to issues with space at the Ukrainian capital's airport.
One final problem with taking the Champions League final to all corners of Europe is the fact that it doesn't actually benefit local fans as much as would be hoped.
While residents of Kiev will be able to watch this year's match between Real Madrid and Liverpool on big screens in the fanzones, the average monthly salary of 300 euros simply isn't enough for the ticket prices of 70 to 6,700 euros.
MawakeOfficial
0
the venue has been decided long before,nobody knew who was going to be at the finals
IDC there's still politics in there
Roobe
1
just don't talk wen u have no idea how things are been decided. we should think and research more before spitting out s*****.....
You don’t need to comment just for the sake of talking. You have no either of what you are saying.check your facts right b4 saying anything.The venue was chosen ages ago without knowing who will even qualify from individual countries leagues.
hopbceopr
0
Real Madrid win 2 CR7 score all 2 ,goals
mutty1234
0
They thought the finals won't pull much fans or won't sell because it's Liverpool. But they lost... Numbers turned up more than they expected. Now this is the only reason why UEFA favors big clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid in this kind of competitions. Camp Nou alone is very very big so imagine Barca went to the finals. You think they would choose these venues?? This where politics comes in and they did everything to keep Barca going in this tournament but this is football. Another reason was they knew real madrid had won it twice so it will be bad if they go the third time. They were thinking people have already started seeing the competition as a Madrid one which ofcors is not safe for them. Different teams need to win the champions league to keep other teams hopes alive... But madrid is madrid. Although they drew them to tougher opponents they passed the tests. And liverpool?? Comeon you never walk alone. They've taken all of us by surprise and i think UEFA is paying for not trusting the finals was going to be awesome as usual. They caused their own lost.
just don't talk wen u have no idea how things are been decided. we should think and research more before spitting out s*****.....
juniorbb
0
They thought the finals won't pull much fans or won't sell because it's Liverpool. But they lost... Numbers turned up more than they expected. Now this is the only reason why UEFA favors big clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid in this kind of competitions. Camp Nou alone is very very big so imagine Barca went to the finals. You think they would choose these venues?? This where politics comes in and they did everything to keep Barca going in this tournament but this is football. Another reason was they knew real madrid had won it twice so it will be bad if they go the third time. They were thinking people have already started seeing the competition as a Madrid one which ofcors is not safe for them. Different teams need to win the champions league to keep other teams hopes alive... But madrid is madrid. Although they drew them to tougher opponents they passed the tests. And liverpool?? Comeon you never walk alone. They've taken all of us by surprise and i think UEFA is paying for not trusting the finals was going to be awesome as usual. They caused their own lost.
the venue has been decided long before,nobody knew who was going to be at the finals
football4ever_MU
0
🙋
donakpst
0
hala Madrid is going to win
football4ever_MU
0
[RMA1][RMA2][RMA3][RMA4] ®|_| |_ € s
MawakeOfficial
0
They thought the finals won't pull much fans or won't sell because it's Liverpool. But they lost... Numbers turned up more than they expected. Now this is the only reason why UEFA favors big clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid in this kind of competitions. Camp Nou alone is very very big so imagine Barca went to the finals. You think they would choose these venues?? This where politics comes in and they did everything to keep Barca going in this tournament but this is football. Another reason was they knew real madrid had won it twice so it will be bad if they go the third time. They were thinking people have already started seeing the competition as a Madrid one which ofcors is not safe for them. Different teams need to win the champions league to keep other teams hopes alive... But madrid is madrid. Although they drew them to tougher opponents they passed the tests. And liverpool?? Comeon you never walk alone. They've taken all of us by surprise and i think UEFA is paying for not trusting the finals was going to be awesome as usual. They caused their own lost.
mubnz
0
Politics
nokeimrsty
0
it's all about money and how much kickbacks u receive (Ricky)
Lipbdu
0
Hala Madrid
Konfaako
0
Kieve have issues with space and yet Uefa chose the place for the final whiles they know it comes with a lot of fans. I think Uefa should next time take some certain things into consideration before choosing a venue. Very disappointed 😥
Atki
0
hala madrid
Masensio20
0
[RMA1][RMA2][RMA3][RMA4]fr eva
OliverKing
1
YNWA
NamgayThinley
1
YNWA
BuzzD
1
maybe its because of cheap referees
And so they can help Real Madrid win
El_Rimance
1
Hala Madrid
madeforfootballRMfan
1
Hala Madrid
Antireal
1
maybe its because of cheap referees
Luka_Modric10
1
good luck madrid[Comeon]
justinvsebin
1
hala madrid
Prasanth Kumar
0
hala Madrid
Aneesh20
1
[RMA1][RMA2][RMA3][RMA4] HALA MADRID
Mcdonken Novsky
1
[RMA1][RMA2][RMA3][RMA4]
joshkay1995
2
For liverpool to be crowned champions
never
joshkay1995
2
hala Madrid
Predeeshs
1
hala madrid
L10NELMESSI
3
For liverpool to be crowned champions
Realsamiran
2
hala madrid
huytuongbg
1
ronando
Mehedi2000
0
ynwa
rucklnr
0
yes
Moses_Sunday
4
UEFA are sick and tired of Madrid winning the UCL so they think given space will make them quite but no We are championships, anywhere they go we will follow them to claim are title