THE prospect of a European club final at the new Lansdowne Road in 2011 is a step closer to becoming a reality.

THE new stadium currently under construction at Lansdowne Road is a step closer to hosting a major European final after it emerged yesterday that Wembley will be named as the venue for the 2011 Champions League final.

Poland and Ukraine have won a reprieve from UEFA and will remain as Euro 2012 joint hosts – but with a warning to speed up their preparations.

The UEFA Cup will be renamed the Europa League from next season – but beaten FA Cup finalists will no longer be allowed into the competition, it was announced today.

The British government have opened the way for the 2011 Champions League final to be played at Wembley after announcing the players involved will be exempt from tax charges if they play for foreign teams.