Istanbul to host 2020 Champions League final, Uefa confirms

European football's governing body Uefa announced the decision following its executive committee meeting in Kiev

Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium beat competition from Lisbon's Estadio da Luz (Getty)

Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium will host the 2020 Champions League final, 15 years after it provided the stage for Liverpool’s memorable comeback against AC Milan to claim the 2005 title.

The decision to give European club football’s biggest game to the Turkish venue was the main decision taken by Uefa’s executive committee in Kiev, where it has gathered for this year’s final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

While the Reds may see Istanbul’s win as a good omen for Saturday evening’s contest, Turkey’s bid for the 2024 European Championships will also see it as a significant vote of confidence from Uefa.

With all Uefa finals now allocated after a proper bidding process, the 76,000-capacity ground was chosen ahead of Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz.

Poland’s Arena Gdansk beat Porto’s Estadio do Dragao for the right to stage the 2020 Europa League final but the Portuguese venue was given the Super Cup as a consolation, while the Women’s Champions League final will be played at Vienna’s Austria Arena.

Apart from allocating these finals, the ExCo also approved a new edition of Uefa’s club licensing and financial fair play regulations.

The result of a wide consultation, the beefed-up rules will mean all clubs that want to compete in Uefa competitions must publish more financial information, including payments to agents.

Accounting principles will be harmonised across the game, to improve transparency, and Uefa’s Club Financial Control Board will use new indicators to monitor budgets more closely. These indicators will track clubs’ debt ratios and net spends.

The ExCo also approved the schedule for Euro 2020, with Wembley hosting group-stage games on 14, 19 and 23 June, a round-of-16 game on 27 June, semi-finals on 7 and 8 July and the final on 12 July.

Glasgow’s Hampden Park gets group-stage games on 15,19 and 23 June, with a round-of-16 match on 30 June, and Dublin’s Aviva Stadium will host group games on 15, 19 and 24 June and a knockout match on 30 June.

The committee also appointed Cypriot FA president George Koumas to replace compatriot Costakis Koutsokoumnis, who died in March, on the Fifa Council until the 2019 Uefa Congress.

PA