Baku and Mkhitaryan

[raoul]

A number of things about football irk me - Bassini being allowed to step anywhere near a football club, Qatar hosting the World Cup and Fifa not giving a toss about their abuse of migrant workers being two examples, constant unpunished timewasting at the end of matches - but the Europa League final is my topic today.

I have been lucky enough to travel extensively for work. I have never made it to Baku, but I have made it on numerous occasions to Almaty in Kazakstan, and to Tirana in Albania. I found both cities very interesting and hope to go back again. However, I would not be awarding a European football final to either. They fail either on location, lack of football heritage, lack of player/fan safety, or numerous other factors.

I am not an Arsenal fan, but the fact that one of their players is effectively banned from the EL Final due to race is a scandal.

Of course, the problem here is UEFA. They clearly have interest in nothing but money (and any punishment of clubs due to "financial fair play" is outrageous hypocrisy. (I am not a Man C fan either, in case you were wondering)).

Wait until the 4 semi finalists are known and then choose a venue. I know the notice is shorter but if a city wants it that bad they would surely cope. Pick somewhere that is neutral, but close.

And we all know that this will come back again - a final sold to the highest bidder can't be far off, and why hold it in Europe? Singapore anyone? New York?