UEFA officials are
preparing to ditch two-legged ties in their competitions this season before
hosting a new ‘final four’ tournament in Istanbul in an attempt to finish the
current campaign, according to reports.
The European governing body are looking to finish the final round of 16
ties from August 6 before squeezing in the rest of the competition before the
end of the month.
UEFA are hoping to host the semi-finals and the final of the Champions League in
Istanbul, which is set to be mulled over at the organisation’s Executive
Committee meeting which will be held on June 17.
Next month’s meeting, which was initially scheduled for May 27, will see
the proposals put forward where clubs still in the Champions League and Europa
League will learn their fate.
Should the idea get the green light, all game following the round of 16
will be contested over 90 minutes instead of the traditional two legs, freeing
up more space on the calendar.
The mini-tournament in Istanbul is thought to be played at
the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, in an attempt to reduce travel for the final
four teams left in the competition while it has been reported to take place
over a four-day period.
The report also suggests that the Europa League’s restart date is being
penciled in for August 6, while the Champions League will get back underway on
Saturday, August 8.
However, approval of the plans would also reportedly mean having to
delay the start of next season, with footballers to be allowed vacations in
September.
The domino-effect
would also see Nations League games in September postponed, meaning the
tournament itself could face a similar fate to the Euros.
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