RB Leipzig have made an application to the federal police to allow Liverpool to travel for their Champions League last 16 clash.
That’s according to Frankfurter Allgemeine, who say there is a ‘bureaucratic race against time’ to ensure the game can go ahead.
Jürgen Klopp and his team are set to fly to Germany for the first leg of their last 16 tie on February 16th, but that has been thrown into doubt after Germany issued a ban on flights into the country from the UK until February 17th.
That has meant the two clubs have been forced to look at playing the fixture in a neutral venue, if Liverpool are unable to travel.
It seems, though, Leipzig are doing all they can to ensure the game goes ahead, with FAZ reporting that they ‘submitted an application’ to the federal police to allow Liverpool to enter the country for the tie.
“Of course we are in talks with the authorities, UEFA and Liverpool,” said RB spokesman Till Müller on Tuesday.
“On Monday we applied for an entry permit for the team from Liverpool. We are waiting for feedback.”
That application, say FAZ will have to be dealt with by February 8th, by which point UEFA have demanded there ‘must be clarity’ on the situation.
According to their regulations, Leipzig must ‘ensure’ that the game is played. If that is not possible in their stadium, then they must suggest a neutral venue to UEFA instead.
The exchange of home rights is also a solution, but would require agreement from both clubs first. If Leipzig can’t find a solution, with the rules stating that the tie must be fully completed by April 2nd, then they will forfeit the tie 3-0.
That is obviously something they are keen to avoid, and club representatives are ‘optimistic’ about the game being played, with the goal to avoid it taking place at a neutral venue.
