Liverpool FC Forum

by **Reg** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:32 am

Premier League move for a change of Champions League final venue

The Premier League could write to Uefa to request that football’s European governing body considers moving the venue for the Champions League final in advance of the prospect of an all-English showdown, The Times understands.

Manchester United will join Liverpool and Chelsea in the last four of the competition should they see off the challenge of AS Roma in their quarter-final, second leg at Old Trafford this evening.

There are fears that an all-English final, particularly one that thrusts together Liverpool and United in Moscow on May 21, could be marred by serious crowd violence.

It is an almost identical situation to last season when Liverpool and Chelsea were paired in one semi-final and United and AC Milan in the other. United’s 3-2 defeat by Milan in the second leg at the San Siro averted the mouth-watering but daunting prospect of a final against Liverpool in Athens, but the Premier League are thought to be keen to guard against such a possibility arising this season.

Uefa dismissed as a non-starter the possibility of switching last season’s final from Athens to Wembley in the event of Liverpool or Chelsea and United reaching the final, but that would not necessarily prevent the Premier League from making a similar request this time around.

It is believed that the Premier League could recommend the game be played at a neutral venue in England, with Wembley the obvious candidate, or at a stadium in Scotland, such as Hampden Park or Ibrox.

The Premier League are mindful that Moscow has been planning and preparing for the Champions League final for many months and that to change the venue at the eleventh hour - however unlikely - would cost the Russian capital millions in revenue and also set a dangerous precedent, but there are genuine fears that European football’s showpiece occasion could be blighted by violence, especially if United and Liverpool, arguably English football’s fiercest rivals, are paired together.

Uefa, nonetheless, are likely to give short shrift to such an idea, and point to the 2000 final between Real Madrid and Valencia, the Spanish clubs, in Paris and the all-Italian encounter between Milan and Juventus at Old Trafford, both of which passed off peacefully, as evidence that trouble is far from guaranteed and that Moscow could successfully welcome 100,000 English supporters.

Uefa would almost certainly seek talks with British police to deal with the anticipated logistical nightmare should the final be an all-English affair.

There was widespread relief among the police forces of Merseyside and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) that a United-Liverpool final was avoided last season and they will undoubtedly like to see such a scenario averted again this term.

One senior police figure at GMP told The Times that a United-Liverpool final would represent “the worst scenario imaginable” and both forces would almost certainly welcome a venue change.

Aside from the obvious threat of trouble in Moscow, there would be concerns about flight arrangements to and from the Russian capital, with fans of both clubs just as liable to travel from Manchester and Liverpool airports.

The potential problem of masses of rival fans descending on Moscow en masse, feasibly on unsegregated planes, would just be one of several other issues to resolve.

Although relations between United and Liverpool at a boardroom level were strained over the Gabriel Heinze transfer saga last summer, Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, and David Gill, his United counterpart, are on good terms and, like the police, would doubtless back any attempts by the Premier League to have the venue switched.

++

Personally I dont think the Russians are experienced enough to handle such a game and 100,000 Brits which despite the immediate backlash from those who dont care about these things, could bring about the ultimate disaster for english football - that we are banned again - and how Platini and the Italian/Spanish clubs would love that - losing the TV revenue would plunge the PL back into the dark ages. Is it worth the risk?

Move it I say, to the German world cup stadium, Paris or Wembly but Moscow to me has got to be the silliest idea for a decade.

My 2 cents worth.

by **Kharhaz** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:40 am

You just know there are going to be problems. Visas and supporters without tickets turning up , in fact its not even in europe ! surely if a european final is to be staged in a grand stadium at the very least it has to be in europe. A stadium in italy, france or spain would be good. Good stadiums and still maintains that european "feel" about the occasion.

by **tubby** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:46 am

I cant believe Moscow got it in the first place. The place is a shithole honestly.

by **Thingy** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:46 am

If its an all English final, you can bet your last penny there will be murder. Its only a month till the final, I dont think it could be changed with that little time till the final anyway. Not that it matter as Barca wil t.wat the mancs.

by **Rush Job** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:00 am

Paris then Platini might go for it. If it does end up a pool, manc final you just know the Moscow coppers will be gittery as fook just wanting to get stuck into "English hooligans", any slight disturbance and in comes the battons and tear gas like what has happened to the mancs this past couple of seasons in Europe. The biggest risk for me is half these places (that havent had the reforms we have though the 90`s) dont know how to police real high profile football matches, they offen just steam in all heavy handed and often kick off any troubles that could have been easly averted.

by **ruskiy playmaker** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:16 am

bavlondon wrote:I cant believe Moscow got it in the first place. The place is a shithole honestly.

Why, have you been there?

by **Owzat** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:34 am

It won't be moved, either this has already come up this season or before when the prospect of an all-English final was last talked up. It isn't about convenience for the fans or teams involved, it is prestige and politics. They like to spread it about like the World Cup, in truth some of the countries that are considered for the World Cup ARE unsuitable, but they get it anyway.

Think about it logically, the final venue is decided long before the finalists. They're not going to change it. Turkey is one of the worst places to host a final, somewhere closer to Italy and England would be better but that was never going to be moved and this won't be even if the mancs do get to the final. Let's just pray the venue selected from now and evermore is not as obviously dangerous and stupid as the selection of Heysel.

by **dawson99** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:59 am

moscows a lovely place... some of you people are a lil bit ...wrong? lol

by **maypaxvobiscum** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:03 pm

stupid idea. the ECL wasnt created so an english club could win it so why the special treatment? each country have a chance to host the final each year and just because both clubs might be english doesnt mean it should be played in england, moscow will lose revenue, the russian football federation will rightly so feel ill-treated and the football fans there will feel cheated. put yourselves in their position and if the final was shifted to italy or spain instead.

by **VamosRafa** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:34 pm

Why should Russian football miss out on the prestige of hosting the European Cup final, just because a hostile environment will be created by the teams visiting. Should we play the Mancs in the final, it will be up to the FA and British governing bodies to come up with a feasible solution (which admittedly will be very difficult). Some serious planning and thinking will be needed to ensure the fans are kept separate, and that people going out there to cause problems (from both sides) won't be able to make it there. I'm really hoping we don't play utd in the final because of this, as i feel the experience will be ruined because of a minority of fans who really have more interest in fighting than supporting their team. I doubt the Russian police will have any qualms using violence against any english supporters they perceive to be causing problems, in a similar way to Athens. Come on Barca, if you beat the mancs, any worries about the final should fade away!

by **Roger Red Hat** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 1:58 pm

maybe uefa could get it moved to old trafford? cos lets face it ... THATS WHERE THE FKRS WANT IT REALLY!

nob 'eds

by **mighty mo** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:03 pm

turkey isn't a european nation but it held the final, so why not russia, they are part of uefa, and that is why uefa choose them to hold the final.

by **Lando_Griffin** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:56 pm

We really don't want to meet the scum in the final.

by **Istanpool** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:08 pm

Hi,
I'm a tout

by **woof woof !** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:13 pm

mighty mo wrote:turkey isn't a european nation but it held the final, so why not russia, they are part of uefa, and that is why uefa choose them to hold the final.

Turkey and Russia are both firmly part of Europe , although admittedly vast areas of both countries extend into "Asia".

Liverpool v Man U CL final does seem like a recipe for a disaster , but I don't think the fact that whether the game was in Moscow, Munich or Madrid would make any difference.

If anything Uefa and English fans from both clubs (should they make it), may find that their biggest danger to a peaceful final comes from Russian Ultras keen to take on English opposition.

Liverpool FC Forum

Final to move from moscow?

Who is online