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Istanbul avoided again - Belfast to host UEFA Super Cup clash between Chelsea and Villareal
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 03.06.21. | 17:31
Chelsea has the opportunity to win the one European trophy they miss in their cabinets
Biggest Turkish city hoped that, after being deprived of the Champions League final, they will at least get the chance to host the UEFA Super Cup final in which winners of Champions League and Europa League will test their might.
Sportsmail reports the Irish FA has confirmed today that the London Blues and the Yellow Submarine will play their UEFA Super Cup final in Belfast - even though the Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports, Mehmet Kasapoglu insisted the match should take place in Istanbul.
There had been speculation the game may be moved to the Ataturk Stadium in Turkey and it looked like Northern Ireland was destined to miss out. Eventually, hosting of the Super Cup clash was handed to Belfast.
'We had completed all our preparations for this competition and made our plans. We would like a final with enthusiastic fans in the stands, but it was not possible under pandemic conditions,' Kasapoglu told Goal Turkey.
Last season, as coronavirus pandemic gathered pace, UEFA moved the latter stages of the Champions League to Portugal and again this year, the showpiece ended up in south west Europe after Turkey suffered a second wave of Covid infection.
But UEFA has stood firm and now confirmed to the Irish FA that the showpiece will be played in Belfast, after all.
In the Europa League final, Villarreal overcame Manchester United in a thrilling penalty shoot out following a tense 1-1 draw in Gdansk, Poland.
Chelsea qualified for the one-off encounter when they stunned Manchester City in a 1-0 victory in the Champions League final at the Estádio do Dragão stadium in Porto.
Throughout weeks of uncertainty over the location of the Super Cup final, Northern Ireland remained desperate to host the match and the Irish FA has now received confirmation from UEFA.
The final will be played at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast on August 11.
Details of the attendance and ticketing arrangements are still to be finalised.
