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Portuguese police announced Tuesday the recovery of the Women’s Champions League trophy after it was stolen from the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, which will host the upcoming final between holders Barcelona and Arsenal.
The theft occurred during a league match between Sporting Lisbon and Vitoria Guimaraes on Saturday, but was not reported to police until the following day.
“Several individuals wearing balaclavas forced open a gate” in the garage of the stadium, where the tournament’s showpiece will be played on May 24, the police said in a statement.
In addition to the trophy, other items of equipment belonging to UEFA were also taken.
These items, along with the trophy, have since been returned to European football’s governing body, a police spokesman told AFP.
Thirteen suspects have been identified, according to a police statement, which gave no details of the operation that led to the recovery of the stolen items.
The investigation is ongoing and the police said they expect to recover more items and make further arrests in the coming days.
For the unversed, Arsenal and Barcelona will face each other in the Women’s Champions League final, set to be played in Lisbon on 24 May, Saturday.
Barcelona reached the final after thrashing Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in their semi-final, while Arsenal reached the Champions League final for the first time in 18 years after completing a remarkable fightback to beat eight-time champions Lyon at the Groupama Stadium.
Their hard work has earned them a place in their first European final since 2007, the year they achieved a historic quadruple.
They will face the reigning champions, Barcelona, who earlier on Sunday triumphed over Chelsea.
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