UEFA Champions League Finals Outside Europe - A Way to maximize Global Market Potentials

NEW UEFA PRESIDENT Aleksander Ceferin says he would consider playing the Champions League final outside of Europe for the first time.

“It might be an idea but we have to speak about it,” Ceferin said.

“To go from Portugal to Azerbaijan for example is almost the same or the same as if you go to New York. It’s a European competition so let’s think about it.”

Currently, there is no tendering process to host the final of either of Europe’s club competitions, but the former Slovenia federation president will restore an open bidding process, with New York reportedly being one possibility.

“The bidding process should be very clear because if you get the Champions League finals or Europa League finals as a political favour then it’s not okay,” he continued.

Ceferin however is committed to keeping the kick-off time for the final at 19:45 BST, but semi-final ties could also move to the weekend after the success of moving the final to Saturday nights.

This year’s final will be staged in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium with the 2018 edition being hosted in the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.