Atletico are looking for a neutral stadium to play against Chelsea. And all due to coronavirus restrictions that have been in place in Spain since Christmas and restrict traffic with Great Britain. It had previously been suggested that the 1/8 UEFA Champions League match would be played in Bucharest, but another option has now emerged. Only Warsaw, as reported by Sky Sports reporter Angelo Mangiante.
Will there be a Champions League match at Legia?
– The topic came to us last week, but more in the form of a question. No details have been presented at the moment – we heard on Monday afternoon on Zazenkovskaya Street, that no one was saying “no” to such an idea, but there was little time left to implement it, because the decision regarding the Atletico match against Chelsea will take place on February 16, To be taken on Monday evening.
According to the protocol prepared by UEFA and described here, the hosts of the first matches of the Champions League have until Monday until Monday to report problems related to the organization of the matches. They are responsible for finding an alternate stadium. If the engagement does not take place, then a reward will be awarded.
There is no obligation to quarantine athletes in Poland
In theory, such a meeting could take place in Poland without major problems, because “foreigners who are arrived are bound to participate, as a player, a member of the coaching staff, a doctor, a physiotherapist or a judge, in international sports competitions organized in the territories of Poland, can enter our country. To the Republic of Poland by an international sports federation working in the Olympic or Paralympic Games or any other federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee or organized by an international sports organization with a continental scale belonging to this federation or a Polish sports association, in addition To accredited journalists, after documenting the border guard officer the fact that the competition was held and the date and nature of participation in an appropriate letter issued by the competition organizer or certified by the Polish Sports Federation competent in a particular sport.
Released from quarantine “People who participate as a competitor, a member of the coaching staff, a doctor, a physiotherapist or a referee, in international sports competitions organized on the territory of the Republic of Poland by an international sports federation working in the Olympic Games or the Olympic Games.” For the disabled, or otherwise recognized by the International Olympic Committee or organized by an international sports organization with a continental domain belonging to such a federation, or a Polish sports association, as well as by accredited journalists.
In Warsaw, matches like this can now be played at the Legia stadium. And only in Legia, because PGE Narodowy, where the Polish national team plays, was transferred to a field hospital for coronavirus patients at the end of October. If LM returns to Łazienkowska, it will be a comeback a few years later. The last match in this competition was held at the Warsaw Stadium on December 7, 2016. The fans connect it well, because Legia then defeated Sporting (1: 0), thanks to which they finished third in the group (behind Borussia and Real) and advanced to the European League 1/16.