FORGET ISTANBUL, HAND BOTH UEFA FINALS TO GDANSK

IF THE pandemic has demonstrated anything it is that events without large numbers of fans have one advantage: flexibility.

UEFA contrived to stage the 2019-20 Champions League from the quarter-finals onwards in one city, Lisbon. Domestic fixtures such as Tottenham v Fulham were switched and rearranged at just three days’ notice. So why can’t the venue for the Champions League final be decided at a meeting next Thursday, once the identities of the two clubs are known?

Istanbul is a problem now. Turkey has just been plunged into a full lockdown lasting until May 17, with the level of infection among the highest in Europe. With UEFA previously guiding that 9,000 fans would be allowed inside the 76,000-capacity Ataturk Stadium, it makes no sense to expect supporters to fly 4,000 miles across the continent to a Covid hotspot.

Turkey’s current policy on foreign visitors — welcome without quarantine despite only 16 per cent of the country being vaccinated — smacks of desperation, not safety.

If Chelsea and Manchester City get there –— and there’s a decent chance — we all know the most sensible location would be a major ground in England. Wembley, obviously, but with only 9,000 inside, options are numerous. Even Villa Park, halfway between the two cities, would do.

Equally, one of the major movements would be of officials, broadcasters and media, so why not play the Champions League final at the same venue as the Europa League final four nights earlier: Gdansk in Poland. The Stadion Miejski is already proposing to hold 10,000 on May 26, so 9,000 on May 29 should not be a problem.

There are too many organisers taking a cavalier attitude to significant problems that could be simply resolved. Istanbul can revert to top of the list as the next Champions League final venue — the first available slot is 2025, unless Wembley wants to swap in 2024 — but it is wrong to host it there next month.

CHRIS KAVANAGH was mistaken and Peter Bankes wrong to lead him on. That is the irresistible conclusion following the decision to erase Fabian Balbuena’s red card for West Ham against Chelsea on Saturday. Everyone could see there was no intent, malice, not even foul play when his follow-through connected with Ben Chilwell’s leg while clearing the ball. Bankes, the VAR, showed no common sense flagging up the challenge, Kavanagh even less by sending off Balbuena on review. Justice is done. Except Kavanagh (above) will referee Brighton v Leeds tomorrow, while Bankes is trusted to be VAR when Tottenham host Sheffield United — despite neither man demonstrating any real understanding of the game and how it is played. And we wonder why bad decisions repeat.