“We hope that everything will be fine and that it will be possible to organize the tournament in Portugal. For the moment, there is no reason to envisage a plan B “, indicated a spokesman of UEFA, adding that the body of European football is” in permanent contact with the Portuguese Football Federation and local authorities ”. “We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and will adapt when the time comes if necessary,” he added, echoing the words of UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin on June 17.
As of Wednesday, residents of 19 neighborhoods in the northern suburbs of Lisbon, where foci of contagion to the coronavirus persist, will again be confined to their homes, Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced. In these contiguous sub-municipalities but spread over five municipalities, including that of Lisbon itself, gatherings will be limited to five people, compared to 10 people in the entire capital region and 20 in the rest of Portugal.
“Trust”
On Tuesday, to prepare for the event, a videoconference meeting was held between Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Mr. Ceferin and the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Fernando Gomes, said UEFA. The three men again “reaffirmed their confidence that the conditions will be met in Portugal to host the final tournament of the Champions League as planned,” said a statement. Costa, quoted in the press release, said he was happy to hear that “UEFA remains fully committed to hosting the Final 8 in Portugal”.
The Prime Minister drew up a “full update” on the situation of Covid-19 in the country, adding that “all measures are taken to ensure that we host this tournament in a healthy and secure manner”. The final of the 2019-2020 Champions League, competition suspended mid-March because of the coronavirus, is to take place on Sunday August 23 in Lisbon, after an unprecedented final tournament bringing together eight teams in the Portuguese capital from August 12.
Four teams have already qualified for the quarter-finals: Paris SG, RB Leipzig, Atalanta Bergamo and Atlético Madrid. The other four tickets will be allocated after the round of last 16 remaining to be played and scheduled for August 7 and 8 in places yet to be determined, either on the home team’s field, or in Portugal. The presence or absence of spectators in this tournament will be “regularly assessed” depending on the health situation, said UEFA on June 17. (afpnxp)
Created: 06.30.2020, 7.46 p.m.
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