Europa League: Arsenal vs Benfica could end up a single legged tie played at a neutral venue

The Europa League last-32 tie between English side Arsenal and Portuguese club side Benfica could be played over one leg on neutral territory under new rules issued by tournament organizers UEFA.

The first leg of the round-of-32 clash is due to be played in Lisbon on 18 February, but government concerns about new coronavirus variants could mean that they may not be allowed to fly to Portugal.

The two-legged tie is set to run into difficulties because of strict new UK coronavirus rules on arrivals from Portugal.

This rule means Arsenal players and staff would be required to quarantine for 10 days on their return from the first leg and Benfica would be barred from entering the country for the second leg.

On the contrary, the solution to this would be to play the match at a neutral venue, and UEFA’s competition regulations for the Champions League and Europa League knockout phases allow for this possibility.

Under rule K.1.8 of the respective competitions’ rulebooks, it states “the UEFA administration…..has the right to assign an alternative venue for any particular match or even to decide that either or both legs of the relevant round to be rescheduled and/or played in a neutral country (within the territory of a UEFA member association) and/or organised as a single leg.”

Arsenal is understood to be working on the basis of a two-legged tie played at neutral venues.

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