2,500 foreign football VIPs and media personnel to attend Euro 2020 final

An agreement is nearing completion that will see 60,000 fans attend the Euro 2020 final on July 11 at Wembley Stadium. The government and UEFA could reach an agreement and make an announcement as early as Tuesday. Around 2,500 international VIPs and media will be permitted into England for the showpiece event, according to the plans. It’s also thought that the final capacities for both semi-finals are up for debate. In the current discussions, health and safety are extremely crucial.

Last week, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin reminded the Government that alternative towns were willing and equipped to host Wembley matches. There has been speculation that UEFA may transfer the two semi-finals and final to Budapest, which has already held two European Championship games in front of a crowd of 60,000.

According to a source, the government is considering ways to preserve the country’s health and borders. One concept being discussed is to fly spectators from participating countries into the UK, transport them to the stadium by bus, and then return them to the airport after the game. According to a government source, the administration is also considering how to handle VIPs attending the Champions League final in Porto.

Boris Johnson acknowledges that the government will communicate with UEFA, but that public health must take precedence. ‘When lockdown has been extended in the UK, it’s a kick in the teeth to read that up to 2500 ‘VIPs’ may be allowed into the UK for the #EURO2020 final without quarantine restrictions,’ said SNP MP Alyn Smith.

Sage member Professor John Edmunds told Times Radio, “The rates of cases in Europe are generally lower than they are here in the UK. And in particular, if we look at the things that we’re really nervous about, which would be the Delta variant, and then the rates are much, much lower than they are here. So, you know, overall, I don’t think it’s really going to be the major problem for us. I don’t think it’s going to change the course of the epidemic in the UK.”

Changes to quarantine procedures for persons returning from amber and red destinations are proposed by a Cabinet committee. Those returning from amber or red countries may require up to ten days of self-isolation. The amber list includes England, Wales, and Scotland, while the red list includes every national team competing in Euro 2020. As a result of the changes, a tiny number of red-list tourists may be able to avoid quarantine.