Following this afternoon’s UEFA press conference, Glasgow City can confirm that our UEFA Women’s Champions League Quarter Final match against German Champions Wolfsburg, will take place on either 21st or 22nd August.
UEFA’s announcement indicated that all of the final matches of the competition will be played between two venues in Spain, San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao and the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian and will also be one off games, most likely behind completely closed doors.
The final date and location of Glasgow City’s match will be confirmed when the four quarter final ties are pulled out of the hat at a UEFA scheduled draw in Nyon on 26th June.
At present the Frauen Bundesliga has fully returned to competitive action, with Champions Wolfsburg today clinching their fourth successive League title. With City yet to resume training after Covid-19 derailed all training and competition in Scotland since March, Club Manager Laura Montgomery is eager for the team to get back.
She said, “The announcement from UEFA today, now gives us a clear focus. We know given the stringent protocols required for the resumption of training and playing in Scotland, it is most likely going to delay the commencement of our League with any real significance until much later in the year. This is understandable as for all clubs, the cost of testing, irrespective of the other safety measures required, simply makes it financially very challenging to return. However, for ourselves, we have no choice. We somehow must return. We have the biggest game possible against one of the world’s very best sides in only two months time and the prospect of further UEFA competition soon after as we enter the Champions League for 20/21. Not returning to train is simply is not an option for our club and also for the integrity of the Scottish game as we proudly represent our nation in the biggest and most elite club competition in the world.”
Glasgow City’s original match against Wolfsburg was of course supposed to be a two legged match, with City originally scheduled to play the German champions at home at Petershill Park on 25th March. The club is aware that many supporters had purchased their tickets for that match.
Commenting on this, Montgomery said, “We have a large number of supporters who had bought their original ticket for the game and many more sales expected as we got closer to the fixture. The loss of that additional income is challenging for us as a club, especially when we have had no revenues now for a number of months and had budgeted for that income. However, we also understand that every supporter has their own very unique set of individual challenges at the moment. For all supporters who seek a refund, please email us at tickets@glasgowcityfc.co.uk and we will process your refund. For those who are in a position, not to seek a refund, the club would be extremely grateful for your donation during these challenging times. In addition, for those who do not seek a refund, your Wolfsburg ticket will be valid for our first two domestic home fixtures, once our SWPL 1 League campaign gets underway.”
Supporters have until 5pm on Tuesday 30th June to claim their refund.