Euro 2020 matches in England under threat due to Covid-19 as Government admit they can’t guarantee seven Wembley games including the semi-finals and final will be safe to go ahead with fans
- Euro 2020 matches due to take place in England next summer are under threat
- Wembley is set to host seven matches including both semis and the final
- The Government have admitted the Covid-19 pandemic could affect the games
The Government have admitted that seven Euro 2020 matches due to be staged at Wembley next summer could be cancelled because of Covid-19.
The tournament was due to take place in 12 different cities across 12 UEFA countries in June this year before it was put back until 2021 because of the pandemic.
Wembley is due to host England’s three group games, plus a last 16 clash, both semis and the final and while Secretary of State for Sport Oliver Dowden is hopeful the games will go ahead, he admitted the virus could change plans.
Seven Euro 2020 matches due to be staged at Wembley next summer are under threat
The Government admitted the Covid-19 pandemic could prevent the games going ahead
‘I very much hope so,’ he told The Sun when asked whether the Euros will be staged in June,
‘But, given this virus and the unpredictability of it, I can’t give a cast iron assurance.
‘Fans wouldn’t want it to go ahead if it wasn’t safe to do so.
‘But if it is safe to do so, then, of course, we will work to achieve that.
Wembley is set to host England’s three group games, a last 16 clash, both semis and the final
‘We’re planning on that basis, but this disease is with us this winter.
‘In making decisions on this I’m going to be driven by the health first.’
Fans are still unable to attend matches in England due to the recent spike in cases after a trial return was set to take place this month.
However, as reported by Sportsmail, the FA believe the situation could change rapidly if the Government can successfully launch Operation Moonshot, a project which would see millions of Covid tests – including some giving results within minutes – processed daily.
The governing body are also being updated on the development of a Covid vaccine, which if successful could accelerate the process of reintroducing spectators to matches before the Euros.