Lansdowne set to host UEFA final

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.

That decision will end hopes of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium hosting the climax of the new UEFA Cup competition in 2011 and instead make Lansdowne Road a hot favourite to host the final in the same year.

UEFA officials have already visited the stadium under construction and have also been given a tour of facilities available in Dublin.

The road to Wembley for the Champions’ League Final was cleared after UEFA sources confirmed they are satisfied with the British government’s promise to exempt players in the final from paying tax on prize money, and the decision will be rubber-stamped by the next executive committee meeting on December 16.

European football’s rulers had delayed a decision specifically to wait for the tax issue to be sorted out in order to award the final to Wembley.

However, UEFA will not give both the Champions League final and the UEFA Cup final – to be named the Europa League from next season – to stadiums in the same country so Arsenal’s loss is Dublin’s gain.

The new stadium at Lansdowne Road is due to open in 2010.