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UEFA Champions League
With the Champions League final coming up this weekend, every soccer fan is ready to tune in for the epic match. One of the most well known and respected club football tournaments, the UEFA Champions League was first held in 1955, known as the European Cup before its name change in 1992.
This year, the final has come down to Man City vs Chelsea on the 30th May. The event is confirmed to be hosted at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto, after a venue change due to COVID-19.
If you count yourself a Champions League fan, or maybe just want to know a bit more about the tournament, read on for some interesting facts and impress your mates with your Champions League knowledge.
How many views?!
Being one of the biggest soccer tournaments in the world, the Champions League draws millions of viewers to watch every year. With greater international viewership than the American Superbowl, the 2012-13 final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund had a whopping 360 million television viewers.
The English Banning
English clubs were banned from competing in the Champions League and UEFA cup play for 5 years (1986-1991) after the Heysel Stadium disaster. On the 29th May 1985, 600 people were injured and 39 died after a group of Liverpool fans charged after a group of Juventus fans. This caused the collapse of a stadium wall, crushing spectators and a human stampede, with some individuals trampled in the rush to flee.
Can I keep the trophy?
According to a rule introduced in 1968/69, if a team wins the Champions League three years in a row or five times overall, they win a full sized replica of the cup. UEFA keeps the original trophy – a massive 73.5cm in height and 7.5kg in weight.
Goals, goals, goals
Fastest goal: Roy Makaay currently holds the record for fastest goal in a UEFA Champions League match at 10.2 seconds (2007). However, the fastest goal in a final was scored by Paolo Maldini in under 51 seconds (2005).
Most goals: Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer in Champions League history with 134 total goals. As for most goals in one game, Lionel Messi was the first player to score 5 in 2012.
Too old to ref?
The UEFA Champion League is such a high paced match that all referees are required to pass a fitness test before being considered. Since 1990, referees were required to be younger than 45 years old to be eligible. However, the maximum age requirement was removed by 2016 – the minimum age remains 25 years.
Keen to watch the Champions League?
If you’re looking to watch the big game on the big screen, come down to Varsity Joondalup on the 30th May 2021 from 3.00am to catch the match. Drinks will be flowing until the final whistle and if you’re keen for a late night (or early morning) snack, the kitchen will be ready to go!
