Turkey will host Champions League final in August - federation chairman

General view before the match as the match will be played behind closed doors as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world REUTERS/Umit Bektas

ANKARA, May 6 (Reuters): Turkey plans to host the Champions League final in August, the head of its football federation said on Wednesday, after it was postponed by the global coronavirus pandemic.

Two months ago European soccer's governing body UEFA indefinitely postponed the final, which had been scheduled to be played in Istanbul in May.

Turkish Football Federation chairman Nihat Ozdemir also said Turkey's domestic soccer league would resume from June 12 and aims to complete the season on July 26.

The schedule would involve 7 weekend games and 1 weekday match. Teams will play their matches in their own cities and own stadiums, he said, adding that no consideration had been given to playing matches in a single city.

"God willing, we will complete our own leagues at the end of July. We will hand over our cups on the pitch and then we will cap the season off by hosting the UEFA Champions League final in August," Ozdemir told a televised news conference.