UEFA has admitted that a Europa League final between Rangers and Liverpool at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin would prove to be “extremely challenging” logistically for European football’s governing body.

Both clubs have big followings in Ireland and are in contention to reach the final at the Aviva Stadium. Rangers are level with Benfica heading into the second leg at Ibrox on Thursday after a 2-2 draw in Lisbon, while Liverpool are 5-1 up against Sparta Prague with the return at Anfield to come.

UEFA has reserved the 82,000-capacity Croke Park stadium as a potential fanzone, but is concerned even that might not be enough to accommodate everyone who may come to Dublin without a ticket to soak up the atmosphere for the match on Wednesday, May 22 – especially if Rangers and Liverpool make it.

The Europa League final will be held at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

There are other permutations too which may also prove a headache for UEFA, and while the organisation’s general secretary Theodore Theodoridis did not namecheck Rangers and Liverpool directly when discussing potential permutations that could prove challenging – “I won’t speculate on the names but you are clever enough to work it out,” he said – he admitted that teams with large fanbases in Ireland would almost certainly cause a mass influx into Dublin.

Theodoridis said: “One of the biggest challenges for us this year could be the Europa League final. Under certain conditions, because of the potential teams that could qualify, this might end up being the most challenging for us. We know they will bring a number of supporters without tickets and then there is the issue of potential public viewing venues.

“There are a couple of pairings – I won’t speculate on the names but you are clever enough to work it out – that would be extremely challenging to find ways to accommodate everybody that will be present for that game We have already reserved Croke Park as a potential public viewing venue, but that could not be enough. We are working on this already, together with the local authorities and also Football Supporters Europe.

“If we do get to one of those scenarios, we will also go to the supporters of the clubs involved to find the best solution. The biggest problem we have now is whether Croke Park would be big enough – because we think we would need more alternatives for public viewing for the people who will be in Dublin.

“It’s not an easy operation and it is just for a couple of scenarios which would make it extremely complicated – especially with clubs who already have a large fanbase on the island of Ireland. But we are working on it and will involve the fanbases as well. We have to see who gets to the semis and then we will start to work with them as well.”

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UEFA braced for Rangers v Liverpool Dublin Europa League final challenges - 'you're clever enough to work it out'