Milan city councillors were left red-faced on Friday after European football chiefs denied the city's San Siro stadium was the definitive host for the 2016 Champions League final.
Milan, backed by Italian football federation (FIGC) president Giancarlo Abete, announced the Giuseppe Meazza, commonly known as the San Siro, would host the final in 2016.
However UEFA announced in a statement the "chosen city for the 2016 final has not yet been announced", adding that a final decision would not be made until "spring 2014".
The statement added: "Milan is only one of several candidates."
UEFA's statement appears to have left Milan, and Abete, with egg on their faces after city councillors said the San Siro, the home ground of Serie A giants AC Milan and Inter, would host the 2016 final.
The city's Councillor for Sport, Chiara Bisconti, said: "It is testimony to our efforts that we have been able to attract this major football showpiece back to Milan.
"Milan in the next three years will host prestigious events like the Final Four of the Euroleague Basketball, the Heineken (European) Cup rugby, and now also the Champions League."
Biscoti even highlighted improvement projects going on in and around the stadium.
"Work is ongoing because by that time the Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) stadium will have new features. We have a new metro line project and further projects to make the stadium more environmentally sustainable."
AC Milan are Italy's most successful club in the Champions League and it's predecessor the European Cup, triumphing seven times. City rivals Inter, three-time winners, were the country's last victors in 2010.
The San Siro last hosted the final in 2001 when, after a 1-1 draw, Bayern Munich beat Valencia 5-4 on penalties.
Source: AFP
