Sources have told ESPN that Wembley Stadium could be stripped of the Euro 2020 final and semi-finals if the United Kingdom government fails to allow quarantine exemptions for supporters and UEFA guests to attend games, the fixtures in Hungary. moved to the capital of Budapest.
As first reported by The Times, UK ministers are discussing a proposal to exempt UEFA officials, VIPs and sponsors and international broadcasters from the quarantine requirement for 10 days – with visitors a day after five days. Can self-release with negative COVID-19. Testing - upon arrival in the UK.
Sources told ESPN that UEFA has taken up the issue primarily with the UK government to allow supporters of competing teams to travel to London for the semi-finals and final next month.
Euro 2020, which has been delayed by 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is being staged in 11 countries across Europe and nine host cities on the European mainland have allowed citizens of other countries to attend games in their cities. Quarantine exemption provided for participating. .
However, sources have said the UK is sticking to its border policy of insisting on a 10-day quarantine for all visitors from countries on its Amber List and UEFA is reluctant to exempt officials at a time when UK citizens are subject to Huh. For the same strict measures while returning from abroad.
Wembley was denied last month the opportunity to stage the 2021 Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea after the government refused to waive quarantine rules for 2,500 UEFA guests. After the game was moved away from Istanbul, Turkey, UEFA instead handed the fixture to Porto, Portugal.
Asked about the situation on Friday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "We will talk to UEFA to see what they want and see if we can make some sensible accommodations. But the priority obviously has to be public health. needed."
While sources have said that moving the Euro 2020 final and semi-finals from Wembley is still an outright possibility, UEFA is determined to ensure its showpiece opportunity is accessible to as many supporters and guests as possible from outside the UK.
A UEFA statement on Friday read: "UEFA is pleased that Wembley's capacity for matches in the knock-out round will be increased by at least 50%.
“At the moment, we are in discussions with local authorities to allow fans of participating teams to attend matches using a strict test and bubble concept, meaning their stay in the UK is more than 24 hours. and their movement will be restricted to approved transport and places only.
"We understand the pressures that the Government faces and hope to be able to reach a satisfactory conclusion of our discussions on this matter. There is always a contingency plan in place but we are confident that the final week will be held in London."
The month-long delay in lifting all COVID-19 restrictions in the UK from the original date of 21 June has turned the issue to a head, however, UEFA has now identified Budapest as a possible option.
Puskas Arena hosted a 60,000-capacity crowd for the Group F clash between Hungary and Portugal this week and will provide UEFA with the opportunity to stage the semi-finals and final in front of a much larger crowd than the 22,500 limit at Wembley, However, this figure is expected to rise to 45,000 for the semi-finals and final to be held in London.
Hungary, a member of the European Union, is due to lift all border restrictions for travel within the EU from next week, so any games in Budapest will be exempt from the strict rules still in place in the UK.