The Champions League final is usually one of the most highly anticipated days of the football calendar, but this season it’s causing a real headache for UEFA and its president, Aleksander Ceferin.

European football’s showpiece event is yet to have a date and venue confirmed, despite UEFA’s insistence, until recently, that it would go ahead in Istanbul.

UEFA had stepped back and allowed domestic competitions to find solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic before trying to draw up their own plans, effectively sacrificing the months of June and July by setting the Champions League aside until August.

Now doubts about Istanbul as the final venue have multiplied and UEFA’s higher-ups are looking for alternative options and are currently asking around about possible European cities wherein the game could be played.

Lisbon, Madrid and Munich have all been considered ahead of a decision that’s expected on June 17, but MARCA have contacted organisers of the Istanbul final and have been assured that nothing has been settled on yet.

The problems go beyond the location though, as a format for the remainder of the competition is yet to be confirmed.

Initially the idea was to play the competition out as normal, with 27 Europa League and 17 Champions League games to come.

But now other options are being thought up, from two-legged ties to single games and a mini tournament at the same venue with eight teams also suggested in order to reduce travel and days of competition.

Television operators aren’t fans of the alternative options, and with them having paid big money for coverage, they expect a say.

European football won’t return until domestic leagues have all wrapped up, with Italy being the last. Atalanta, Napoli and Juventus are still standing in the Champions League, although neither Napoli nor Juventus are through to the quarter-finals, while Inter and Roma are competing in the Europa League.
Serie A finishes up on August 2, meaning Juventus’ last-16 second leg couldn’t be played before August 5.

As things stand the finals look likely for August 26 and 29, which poses a problem if next season begins on September 12.

UEFA are continuing to work closely with organising bodies and local governments before reaching a decision on June 17 about where and when this season’s finals will be played, and how teams will get there.