European football’s governing body also confirmed that the 2013 UEFA Congress would take place in London, marking the 150th anniversary of the Football Association. At its meeting in Nyon on Thursday, the UEFA Executive Committee also selected the Amsterdam ArenA in the Netherlands as the host stadium of the 2013 Europa League final and Eden Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic, as the venue of the 2013 Super Cup – the annual game staged between the winners of the Champions League and Europa League.
Munich will host next season’s Champions League final on May 19, 2012, 10 days after the Europa League final is staged at the National Stadium in Bucharest, Romania. Although Wembley hosted the Champions League final as recently as last month, when Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1, UEFA president Michel Platini explained that there were exceptional circumstances behind bringing the game back to North London so soon.
“Founded in 1863 the Football Association (FA) is the oldest of all the national football associations and in 2013 it will celebrate its 150th anniversary,” said Platini. “Given the exceptional nature of this historic moment in our beautiful game, and the fact that we will also celebrate 150 years of the Laws of the Game, we felt it was our duty at UEFA to help the FA celebrate in some special way.”
Platini added: “For this reason we have decided to return to England and specifically to Wembley Stadium – the home of the English FA – for the 2013 UEFA Champions League final. I think it is important to respect 150 years of the FA. We are gathered here because 150 years ago there were people in England who put football's rules in place. I believe it is a real moment of respect – if we forget the past, we do not have a future.”
