🚨 UEFA officially cancel Finalissima due to political tensions
· Yahoo Sports
UEFA has cancelled the upcoming Finalissima between 2022 World Cup winners Argentina and 2024 EURO holders Spain due to political tensions in the Middle East.
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The news officially arrived on Sunday, after widespread rumours that the match scheduled to take place in Qatar on March 27, would be cancelled.
The decision was ultimately made in conversation with the Qatari organizing authorities alongside the Argentine Football Association, rejecting any "viable alternatives."
A statement from UEFA explained they explored different dates and venues to try and salvage the match, "but all of them ultimately proved unacceptable to the Argentine Football Association."
These included holding the match at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid on the original date, playing the Finalissima over two legs (one in Madrid and one in Buenos Aires) or potentially using a neutral venue in Europe.
Argentina did, however, propose playing the match either on March 31 or after the World Cup, but these were both rejected as well.
"It is a great disappointment for UEFA and the organizers that circumstances and timing have deprived the teams of the opportunity to compete for this prestigious trophy in Qatar, a country that has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to host world-class international events in state-of-the-art facilities," read the statement.
"UEFA wishes to express its deep gratitude to the organizing committee and the relevant Qatari authorities for their efforts in attempting to host the match, and its confidence that peace will soon return to the region.
"UEFA wishes to express its sincere gratitude to Real Madrid CF, the organizing committee, and the Qatari authorities for their support and cooperation in the attempt to organize this match. In the case of Real Madrid, their efforts were made with extremely short notice. Thanks are also extended to the Spanish Football Federation for its flexibility in adapting to all the proposed options throughout the process."
Should the match have occurred, it would have been the first time Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi would have faced each other.