BERN: The draws for this season's Champions League and Europa League group stages have been moved from Athens because they would break local COVID-19 rules about large indoor gatherings, UEFA said on Wednesday .
The European football body said that the Champions League draw would instead take place without guests - such as club representatives - at its own headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Oct 1 with the Europa League draw the following day in the same venue.
The Champions League group stage will start later than usual on Oct 20, a knock-on effect of the coronavirus pandemic which interrupted last season and caused it to finish in August.