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RB Leipzig and Borussia Moenchengladbach have confirmed that their last 16 Champions League first leg matches against Liverpool and Manchester City will be played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest at the end of February.
Bundesliga teams found out last week through the German Home Office that English clubs cannot enter Germany due to the coronavirus mutations in Britain.
“The Coronavirus Protection Order agreed by the federal government last Friday foresees only a few exceptions and no special arrangements for professional athletes,” the German Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The Leipzig match was scheduled for February 16 in the eastern German city, but the German federal police responsible for border control (the Federal police) rejected RB’s request for a special permit that would have allowed Jürgen Klopp’s team to enter the country.
“The Bundespolizei informed RB Leipzig today that the case does not fall under the category of exceptional circumstances,” it said in a statement.
Budapest over London
UEFA, the governing body of European football, decreed that RB Leipzig must find a solution.
Oliver Mintzlaff, the managing director of the club that reached the Champions League semi-finals last year, was also in talks with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur about the use of their London stadium, but settled on the venue in the Hungarian capital.
Germany has ended nearly all arrivals from areas affected by coronavirus mutations until at least February 17, although German citizens and residents can return to the country from these areas under certain conditions.
Gladbach’s match with City on February 24 was also moved to Budapest with no expectations that the German authorities will relax the rules after February 17.
you are / msh / mds (AFP, Reuters, AP, SID)
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