UEFA intends to hold the remaining Champions League matches at one location as a blitz tournament. Three Bundesliga stadiums could profit from this.
The Champions League could become a purely German affair this year.
Since the original final host Istanbul is apparently withdrawing due to the Corona pandemic, UEFA sent the national associations the tender documents for the planned blitz tournament on Wednesday, according to Bild. According to the newspaper, Germany as well as Portugal and Russia intend to bid for the tournament, DFB president Fritz Keller is said to be one of the biggest supporters.
The tournament is to take place between August 8 and 29 and last about ten days, with all quarter and semi-finals as well as the final to be played.
Games in Frankfurt, Mainz and Hoffenheim?
The German applicant is supposed to be Frankfurt, which would have to fulfill some conditions. The games are to take place in up to four stadiums within a radius of 100 kilometres. The Bundesliga locations Mainz and Hoffenheim/Sinsheim, plus possibly Darmstadt and Wiesbaden, would be possible.
However, only one public health department would be responsible for the entire tournament. However, since Frankfurt, Mainz and Hoffenheim are located in three different federal states, this would only be possible if all matches were played in Frankfurt.
The city of Frankfurt has confirmed its interest in hosting the tournament. “Frankfurt is always able to help. Of course we are interested, even if it is being held in a different way than usual,” the German Press Agency quoted Markus Frank (CDU), head of the Main metropolis’ sports department, as saying.
RB Leipzig already in the quarter finals
In addition, UEFA is to demand major tax breaks so that in the end the profits are higher. In order to save the competition, UEFA should be prepared to make concessions, according to Bild.
According to the news agency AP, the decision about the competition will be made at the UEFA executive committee meeting on June 17th.
Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, Atlético Madrid and Atalanta Bergamo are already in the quarter-finals. FC Bayern still have to play the second leg of the round of sixteen against Chelsea FC (first leg: 3-0).