FA chairman delighted at Wembley's Champions League final award - Football - Sport - Evening Standard
       

FA chairman delighted at Wembley's Champions League final award

Football Association chairman David Bernstein has hailed UEFA's decision to mark the organisation's 150th anniversary by awarding the 2013 Champions League final to Wembley.

It means the stadium will host an unprecedented two finals in the space of three years after the success of the Barcelona v Manchester United showpiece last month.

Bernstein said: "We are absolutely delighted. It is most unusual for the final to be held in the same venue twice in three years.

"It was totally recognised that the Champions League final three weeks ago was an outstanding success. UEFA were absolutely delighted.

"Wembley really came of age that weekend. From a great stadium that was perceived as a little bit of a problem in some ways, it really broke through and is now, I believe, being looked at as a national asset.

"It was very positive financially, of course it was.

"It wasn't just the Champions League final but converting it for the Championship play-off two days later was a tremendous achievement from a great group of people."

UEFA's Congress in the same year will take place in London in the build-up to final, the European body's president Michel Platini announced today.

There had been fears that the FA's decision to oppose UEFA and try to block Sepp Blatter's election as FIFA president would lead to a backlash, but the decisions were passed unanimously by UEFA's executive committee meeting in Nyon, Switzerland.

Platini told a news conference: "This is to celebrate what is a great event for the English FA."

It will be the seventh time that Wembley has hosted the Champions League or European Cup final, the most of any venue.

UEFA also announced the 2013 Europa League final will be held at the Amsterdam ArenA. There will also be a change to the venue for the UEFA Super Cup, the match between the Champions League and Europa League winners, which for years has been held in Monaco. In 2013 it will be held in Prague.

Meanwhile, UEFA announced Toulouse and Saint Etienne will become host cities for Euro 2016 in France, increasing the number to 11.

The number of countries involved will be 24 instead of 16, and the number of matches will increase from 31 to 51.

Comments

Don't Miss
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
What makes Chelsea and Arsenal target Eden Hazard tick?

Hazard warning

What makes Chelsea and Arsenal target Eden Hazard tick?
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music

Grandpa Bob

Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon