Sadiq Khan (Tooting, 53 years old) predicts for EL PAÍS that Real Madrid will beat Borussia Dortmund three to one, in the Champions League final that will be held this Saturday in London. Soccer player, from Liverpool FC, also ventures that Jude Bellingham will score at least one goal, and that he will also celebrate by opening his arms widely, the classic gesture of the English player.
Just a month ago he was re-elected mayor of London for a third term. All of 2024 has been a year of controlled tension, with weekly demonstrations in the capital against Israel’s bombings in Gaza. Of Pakistani origin, the first Muslim to head the metropolis has been able to calmly confront accusations from the right, which said that Khan was controlled by radical Islamists.
There have been no serious incidents during this time. The mayor has managed to temper spirits. He now wants to turn London into the world sports capital. Not only with football. But the first challenge is for Saturday’s game, and the subsequent celebrations, to go perfectly. The lessons have already been learned from the disastrous final of the Euro 2021 Championship, when thousands of English fans broke down the access doors to Wembley and almost caused a tragedy.
Ask. London, capital of sport. An ambitious proposal for an increasingly isolated country.
Answer. As a sports lover, I know how important they are, because they bring people together. I want London to be the sports capital of the world, with the celebration of the Champions League final, eleven years later, but also with other competitions such as cricket, tennis – with Wimbledon -, with the Diamond League of athletics, with baseball or football American. I love being able to hear the Spanish, German or Middle Eastern accent on the street.
Q. You have fought Brexit even when in his party, Labor, they no longer want to talk about that issue. The truth is that when you listen to Spanish or German fans in London, you have the feeling of returning home.
R. This country left the European Union, but we have not left Europe. London is a European city. We have many Londoners who are of Spanish, German, Italian, Polish or Czech origin. They are Londoners, yes, but they are also proud to be Spanish, Italian or German. The same thing happens in football: you can have players of different races, ethnicities or religions. It does not matter. If they are talented, the fans love them.
Q. The Euro Cup final at Wembley in 2021 will go down in history as an infamous event. Is this Saturday an opportunity to recover lost prestige?
R. The way they behaved outside the stadium was unacceptable. But they were not amateurs, they were hooligans, and they broke the law. Those were very important lessons, and we have learned them. The English Football Association, UEFA, City Hall and Wembley, we have all worked hard to show that we have improved. We have spent millions of pounds on improvements, such as more effective security turnstiles, hundreds of assistants and volunteers. The police are also working hard. That’s why I say to everyone who comes to London: enjoy the football and the parties we have organized. Don’t bother coming if it’s to cause disturbances.
Q. Do you fear there will be new anti-Israel protests over the weekend?
R. The key to democracy is the right to protest. It is important that people can do so, as long as it is peaceful, following the law and without putting the safety of others at risk. As long as I am mayor, this will continue to be the case. But without anti-Semitic or Islamophobic behavior. I trust that a sporting event as wonderful as the Champions League final will not be transformed into a political protest. I hope the only flags flying outside Wembley are those of Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund.
Q. Do you dare to predict the result?
R. Real Madrid is going to win three to one, and Jude (Bellingham) will score a goal. And he will celebrate it with his particular gesture, and I with him. I have already practiced it. I wanted to do it when I won the mayor’s office again, but my team wouldn’t let me.
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