Are Bournemouth able to host European games at Vitality Stadium?

Bournemouth qualified for European competition for the first time and will host a minimum of four European matches at Vitality Stadium next season. The club will play in the league phase of either the Champions League or the Europa League, with the specific competition determined on the final day of the Premier League season. Vitality Stadium holds about 11,300 seats, making it the smallest Premier League stadium by more than 6,000 seats, which would place it among the smallest venues to host Champions League matches. Bournemouth stated it has the necessary UEFA licence to host league-phase matches in either competition. UEFA requires category four status for venues from the play-off qualifying round onward, including facilities for referees and media and a minimum spectator capacity of 8,000, which Vitality Stadium meets. Examples show clubs sometimes use alternative licensed grounds when their own stadiums lack UEFA requirements.

"Bournemouth have qualified for European football for the first time in their history, and next season and will host a minimum of four European matches at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries will feature in the league phase of either the Champions League or Europa League, with the exact competition to be decided on the final day of the Premier League season."

"At a capacity of around 11,300 people, the club's stadium is the smallest in the Premier League by more than 6,000 seats, meaning that it would rank among the smallest stadiums in recent history to host Champions League matches should they qualify for the tournament. While some speculation online suggests otherwise, Bournemouth have told BBC Sport that they have the necessary Uefa licence to host league phase matches in either competition."

"All stadia are given a rating between category one and category four by Uefa, with four being the highest. From the play-off qualifying round onwards of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, venues must have category four status. Requirements for a category four stadium range from facilities for referees and media companies to the size of the stadium."

"All category four grounds must have a spectator capacity of at least 8,000, which the Vitality Stadium does meet. Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, who reached the quarter-finals of this season's Champions League, have category four stadium status despite a capacity only fractionally over Uefa's 8,000 minimum requirement."

Read at www.bbc.com