Just which genius at UEFA thought it would be a jolly wheeze to have this year’s Champions League final in Moscow?

Leaving aside the fact that the Russian capital is hardly European, that two English sides have qualified for the first time ever generating a massive stampede for visas, that Moscow has the world’s most expensive hotels (and a shortage of them), coupled with the fact that the airlines have decided to hugely increase prices, well apart from that, I suppose it’s fine.

And now just to add to the confusion, there are reports that the Russians may decide to waive the visa requirement, having taken a look at the mountain of paperwork – even by their standards – that is going to engulf them in the next few days.

The UK press is reporting that UEFA has secured itself some very nice hotels, while the countless millionaires are snapping up spaces at Moscow’s ultra-pricey restaurants and nightclubs for mind-blowing sums of money.

There’s even more irony as a Russian side, Zenit St Petersburg, has now qualified for the smaller UEFA Cup final in, er, Manchester against Rangers.

Perhaps just keep it nearer home next year? Say, The Azores – they’re Portuguese aren’t they?