Post by Salem6 on Feb 13, 2004 11:17:00 GMT
The Jose Alvalade Stadium. (Getty Images)
Galatasaray's new Ataturk Olympic Stadium will host the 2005 Champions League final.
The stadium beat five other venues including the Stade de France in Paris and the Vicente Calderon in Madrid.
In the race to host the UEFA Cup final, Newcastle, Sunderland and Hampden Park all missed out.
UEFA's executive committee decided to hand the final to Sporting Lisbon's Jose Alvalade Stadium, one of two Portuguese venues which were in the running.
The news of the Champions League coming to Istanbul indicates that UEFA are keen to encourage Turkey to put their troubled-littered past to one side and focus on a future of prosperity and stadium safety.
Galatasaray have been punished on several occasions for failing to control their supporters, but UEFA are confident of a trouble-free final next year.
England fans were barred from entering the city last October for a crucial Euro 2004 qualifying match.
And terrorist attacks in Istanbul during November led to some European club matches being moved outside of Turkey.
But UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson said: "We have been looking into security matters based on the events of last autumn and we are being given all the necessary guarantees.
"They [Turkey] have qualified in all requirements, and it is also time to bring finals to other venues."
The all-seater stadium has a capacity of 81,653 and was built in 2001. It has the largest capacity of all stadiums in Turkey.
The Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon has a 50,000 capacity and will stage matches at Euro 2004 this summer, 11 months ahead of the 2005 UEFA Cup final.
Porto's Dragao stadium and Benfica's Estadio Da Luz failed in their bid to host the UEFA Cup final, but they too will put on games at the European Championship finals in June.
All three of the Portuguese stadiums were also bidding to stage the Champions League final.
Also missing out in the UEFA Cup stakes were St James' Park in Newcastle, and its near neighbour the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. The Scottish national stadium, Hampden Park, was also a contender.
Olsson justified UEFA's decision to select Lisbon.
"The choice of Lisbon is recognition for the work done in Portugal by the clubs, association and government in investing in the infrastructure of Portuguese football, which will now have the best facilities in Europe," said the UEFA chief executive.
"It is quite a few years since we brought a club final to Portugal, and the stadium is excellent."
www.sportinglife.com/football/cups/championsleague/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=international_feed/04/02/05/SOCCER_Eur-UEFA.html
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You have got to be fucking joking!!! The stabbing cunts shouldn't even be in the tournament for @ least another 66 years.