Whelan: UK Government tipped to back Aston Villa proposal amid ‘Ludicrous’ situation
Noel Whelan has tipped Government officials to back the proposal from Aston Villa to host this year’s Champions League final.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted it was “ludicrous” for supporters to travel overseas when it is an all-England final against Chelsea and Manchester City.
As reported by Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett, the Villans have offered Villa Park to Uefa as an alternative venue to Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
The Times state Manchester City and Chelsea will be given 4,500 tickets for fans to attend.
However, Coronavirus cases in Turkey are still high and the country only entered its first full lockdown late in April.
Whelan insisted it was crazy to have fans travelling overseas when both clubs are from the same country.
As such, he urged Uefa and both the British and Turkish Governments to consider switching venues.
Asked what he made of Villa’s proposal, Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I think the fact that it’s an all-England final, I don’t think anybody really should be travelling.
“I think Fifa, Uefa need to get their heads together here and come up with a solution. Even Wembley could be a better proposition, have 10,000 fans there as well.
“I don’t think anyone really needs to be travelling or putting it in people’s mind to want to travel abroad right now during this epidemic.
“Turkey have had another outbreak, it seems ludicrous. I think the sensible thing to do is to keep it in England. Can we get Wembley? Can we make Villa Park compliant and Covid friendly, and everything in place because nothing’s in place right now.
“I don’t think Turkey would be too bothered about it, quite frankly. I think they’ve got enough to contend with the outbreak. They’d probably see it as the most sensible decision as well. They probably wouldn’t want fans coming from overseas right now.
“I think for the government’s sake, on either side, it seems very sensible to get a change to England somewhere.”
Manchester City saw off PSG to reach this year’s final, while Chelsea beat Real Madrid.
Wembley is set to host the Championship play-off final on the same day the Champions League final is scheduled for (29 May).
In other news, Aston Villa are set to launch £15million bid for Premier League star.