The official balls of the UEFA Champions League are pictured prior prior the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Juventus and Olympique Lyonnais (OL), played behind closed doors due to the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus, at the Juventus stadium, in Turin, on Aug 7, 2020. (MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP)

LISBON - Portugal can promise the UEFA Champions League 2020 finalists a "safe environment in terms of health and total conditions so that teams can focus exclusively on their preparation and games," according to Tiago Craveiro, CEO of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).

All participants, from the finalist teams, players, coaches to all the professional staff are in hotels where all safety standards are controlled to the smallest detail.

Tiago Craveiro, CEO, Portuguese Football Federation

In an interview with Xinhua, the man responsible for organizing and securing the event admitted that this is a "complex process, but that it is going on as planned."

"UEFA has extensive experience in organizing major events, however, the pandemic reality that we are living in puts us all in front of a reality that the world has never faced before," said Craveiro.

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He added that Portugal is proving that it has the capacity to organize major events, and projects a "very positive balance in the end because we have high-quality stadiums and training centers that can satisfy all the expectations of the teams."

According to the FPF CEO, the Champions League finals came at a very important moment, of "affirmation of Portugal as a country with enormous competence in organizing major sporting events."

In addition to the show itself, Craveiro told Xinhua that expectations regarding the technical level of the sport are being fulfilled.

"We are talking about the eight best teams in Europe in the 2019/2020 season, with many of the best players on the planet in action," he stressed.

He regrets, however, the absense of a crowd in the stadiums, saying that the "heat of the full bleachers" would make the competition "even more spectacular, since the fans are an indispensable ingredient of the game."

"As this is not possible, millions are in their homes, safely, experiencing the emotions of these great games held in Lisbon," said Craveiro.

The CEO of the FPF explained medical and health protocols have been followed to maintain the physical integrity and well-being of the athletes and professionals involved, according to UEFA guidelines.

"All participants, from the finalist teams, players, coaches to all the professional staff are in hotels where all safety standards are controlled to the smallest detail," he explained.

To avoid crowds of people around the stadiums, Craveiro points out that there is total coordination between health and safety authorities in Portugal.

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"There is no possibility to watch the matches at the stadiums, nor are there any Fan Zones as is usual in major international tournaments. We have worked together with the Portuguese government and the General Directorate of Health of Portugal to comply with all the standards that the country has implemented to face the pandemic," he guaranteed.

"It is generally recognized that Portugal, the Portuguese authorities, and Portuguese citizens have so far dealt responsibly and efficiently in the face of the pandemic. In this sense, we seek to maintain the standards imposed in terms of health in our country by the responsible entities," concluded Craveiro.