Soccer: IFA seeks to host Champions League, UEFA Cup final

Israel Football Association submits bid in order to know the standard to which it will need to build the future national stadium.

By ALLON SINAI
champions league 88 (photo credit: )
champions league 88
(photo credit: )
The Israel Football Association has put forward a bid to host the 2010 or 2011 Champions League or UEFA Cup finals in Israel, IFA chairman Avi Luzon said Monday. "The Israel Football Association meets all the criteria set by UEFA, including safety considerations, to host the UEFA Cup final," the IFA said in a statement. "English representatives complimented us on the hospitality they were shown while visiting Israel with the England team, which raises our hopes of hosting the final." The chances of the Champions League final being played in Israel, however, are not as good. Any stadium hosting the title match of European soccer's most prestigious events must seat at least 70,000 people. Even though Israel has no such stadium, the IFA has decided to bid so that it will know, according to UEFA's answer, the standard to which it will need to build the future national stadium. Last year National Stadium in Ramat Gan was short-listed with six other stadiums to host the UEFA Cup finals in 2008 and 2009. But Ramat Gan lost out, meaning Israel is still waiting to host its first European final.