Erdogan slams move to switch Champions League final from Istanbul as ‘political’

UEFA moved the Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea from Istanbul to Porto in hope of allowing English fans to attend. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed UEFA’s decision saying its "political". (Shutterstock)

• "In my opinion, they made a political decision," Erdogan said in a televised speech
• UEFA announced the final between Manchester City and Chelsea would be played in Porto

ISTANBUL: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday slammed the UEFA decision to move the Champions League final from Istanbul to Porto as “political.”
“In my opinion, they made a political decision,” Erdogan said in a televised speech.
“I call it political because we were notified two years ago of the decision that the Champions League would be played in Turkey,” he added.
UEFA announced this month that the final between Manchester City and Chelsea would be played in Porto instead of Istanbul in the hope of allowing English fans to attend.
The announcement came after the UK government placed Turkey on a coronavirus travel red list.
Erdogan said on Wednesday the change of the venue came after “two teams from the British league won the right to play the final.”