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Portuguese government yet to decide if British fans can attend UCL final

Denis Doyle - UEFA / UEFA / Getty

Lisbon, May 13, 2021 (AFP) - The Portuguese government is yet to decide whether or not to lift travel restrictions on supporters hoping to attend the Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea in Porto, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

The match has been moved from Istanbul in order to allow English fans to attend as Portugal is on the British government's green travel list.

But Portugal is still only allowing essential travel into the country from the UK.

"No decision has been taken," said government spokeswoman Mariana Vieira da Silva after a cabinet meeting.

"On flights from the United Kingdom ... there is work ongoing, as soon as a decision is taken, it will be communicated."

Flights with the UK were suspended in January in Portugal due to new coronavirus variants. The suspension was lifted on April 16, but only for essential travel.

Vieira da Silva added that if fans are able to travel, they will have to stay in the country for less than 24 hours, return a negative coronavirus test result before flying, and "not have contact" with Portuguese residents.

Portugal has been gradually easing coronavirus restrictions and is one of 12 countries the British government has said people can travel to without having to quarantine on return from May 17.

UEFA announced earlier on Thursday the May 29 game was being switched from Turkey, which was added to the UK's red list, with the strictest travel restrictions, last week.

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