Khaberni - In an unprecedented move, the European football association "UEFA" decided to hold the final match of the current edition of the UEFA Champions League earlier than usual.
Arsenal will meet its counterpart Paris Saint-Germain, the title holder, in the final scheduled for May 30th on the Puskás Aréna in the Hungarian capital, Budapest.
Changing the Timing of the Champions League Final
The match is scheduled to kick off at 18:00 Central European Time, 19:00 Mecca and Doha Time, which is a completely different time from what had been customary over the past years.
Football fans around the world have been used to watching the Champions League final at 21:00 Central European Time, 22:00 Mecca and Doha Time, but "UEFA" decided before the start of the current season to move the time up by 3 hours.
The French newspaper "Le Parisien" confirmed that the new timing would continue in future editions of this prestigious European tournament.
The European Football Association justified its decision as a desire to provide a warmer atmosphere that allows families and children to attend the final match easily.
The newspaper also explained that holding the final at this earlier time would be easier for everyone, particularly in terms of public transportation before and after the game.
The new timing will also allow fans of the winning team to celebrate for a longer period, which, in turn, will lead to positive economic returns for the event, amidst additional expectations of higher TV viewing rates.
A Chance for Fans to Enjoy
The Slovenian Aleksander Čeferin, the president of the European Football Association, previously stated: "While the 9 PM slot was perfectly suitable for mid-week matches, having the final match start earlier on a Saturday means it also ends earlier, regardless of the need for extra time or penalty shootouts."
He added: "This gives fans a chance to enjoy the rest of the evening with their loved ones and relive the memories of the most important match of the season."
Arsenal was the first to reach the final of the current edition, after defeating Atlético Madrid over two legs with a score of 2-1.
24 hours later, their counterpart Paris Saint-Germain followed after two thrilling matches against Bayern Munich, ending with a 6-5 victory for the French team.
