Way clear for Dublin decider

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

Senior UEFA sources have indicated that Wembley Stadium is set to be named next week as the venue for the 2011 Champions League final. The new stadium at Lansdowne Road had been in a shortlist of three candidates to host the final of the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) in the same year, along with Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and the National Stadium in Bucharest.

But since the two club finals cannot be staged in the same county, confirmation of the Champions League going to Wembley would mean that the Emirates would have to drop out of the running in the bid for the Europa League final.