UEFA is close to agreeing an agreement with the British government to hold the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium and increase the number of fans allowed to 60,000.
Wembley risked being removed from the semi-finals and final following the government’s decision to postpone the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions until later in July, with Budapest, Hungary set as a potential alternative.
Current rules mean that everyone outside a sports bubble must be isolated for ten days after arriving in the country, and just as with the Champions League final, UEFA is not happy with the idea that their VIP players and foreign media need to isolate themselves for the game.
According to The Telegraph, the British government is keen to avoid missing another final and is close to reaching an agreement that would allow around 2,500 UEFA delegates and media representatives to circumvent quarantine rules for the game.
Talks with UEFA are so advanced that a formal announcement can be made as early as Tuesday.
? Thierry Henry shows the Belgian boys how it is done …
… must then be saved by Rome! ? @BelRedDevils @ RomeluLukaku9 #BEL # EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/Sy8aiOAtHG
– UEFA EURO 2020 (@ EURO2020) 21 June 2021
Despite a desire to allow VIPs to circumvent the rules, the government is expected to stand firm when it comes to supporters, which means that anyone traveling to Wembley from abroad will still need to be isolated.
There is a belief that the UK’s multicultural nature means that there will almost certainly be relevant supporters for which teams make the final, so there is no reason to risk easing the rules for up to 60,000 supporters.
However, UEFA is pushing for the participation of fans from abroad and has proposed a “test and bubble concept” that would limit all visitors’ time in the UK, similar to the procedure used for English fans at the Champions League final in Porto.
?? Round goal ??????????
⚽️ İrfan Can Kahveci’s footwork & finish …? @GazpromFootball | #EUROGOTR | # EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/PIsGR1uzAg
– UEFA EURO 2020 (@ EURO2020) 20 June 2021
“We are currently in discussions with local authorities to try to get fans of participating teams to take part in the matches, with a strict test and bubble concept that would mean that their stay in the UK would be less than 24 hours and their movements would be limited to only approved transports and places, “read a UEFA statement.
“We understand the pressures that the government is facing and hope to reach a satisfactory conclusion from our discussions on the issue. There is always a contingency plan but we are convinced that the last week will be held in London. ”
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