RB Leipzig vs Liverpool Champions League clash to be played in Budapest
Liverpool banned from entering Germany for their Champions League clash with RB Leipzig amid
COVID-19 threat.
Airline travel into Germany from England is prohibited, Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)
announced that the new restrictions would “initially not allow any exceptions for professional athletes”.
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A UEFA statement read: “UEFA can confirm that the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match
between RB Leipzig and Liverpool FC will now take place at Puskas Arena in Budapest. The date of the match
(Feb. 16 2021) and kick-off time (9 p.m. CET) will remain the same.
“UEFA would like to thank RB Leipzig and Liverpool FC for their close cooperation and assistance in finding
a solution to the issue at hand, as well as the Hungarian Football Federation for their support and agreeing
to host the match in question.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp urged the German authorities on Friday to allow his team to travel to Leipzig
for the game, citing the club’s adherence to the Premier League’s strict COVID protocols.
“I know the general situation in terms of traveling from England, but with all stuff we are doing here,
the record we have with cases, the discipline in sticking to the protocols, it would be absolutely reasonable
to make an exception,” Klopp said at his Friday press conference.
“I don’t know who decides, but they say it is not possible. We are not infected, we have the same problems
everyone has with another strain, but we are in a bubble and we could play in Leipzig without spreading
the virus.”
Despite the pleas by Leipzig and Klopp, however, the first-leg will now be played in Budapest.
The return fixture at Anfield on Mar. 10 is unaffected and will go ahead as planned.
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