The decision was reached at the end of December, catching the leading teams by surprise. The 2024 Champions Final Four will feature two Spanish teams (Barça and Palma, the reigning champions) and two Portuguese teams (Sporting and Benfica). None of the clubs were certain about the venue for the four games. But given that all the teams were from the Iberian Peninsula, they hoped for a location that would be convenient for their fans in terms of proximity. However, UEFA had a different plan and designated Yerevan, Armenia, as the venue.
This historic Iberian Final Four will take place 5,000 kilometers away. The clubs had no say in this decision. They communicated among themselves and sent a letter to UEFA expressing their position and concerns. It was a formal complaint regarding a choice that they feel is detrimental to the clubs, fans, and, in their view, obstructs the growth of futsal.
“The strength of the letter lies in showing UEFA that the teams stand united, and for the first time, four top European teams have come together for an issue like this. Realistically, the venue won’t change. But it serves as a wake-up call to UEFA for the future, urging UEFA to consider futsal and the clubs,” stated one of the involved. Another individual involved emphasized that there would be no change in the venue. And they have come to terms with the title being decided in Armenia.
