ENGLAND may have to play in GREECE to avoid forfeiting their Nations League game with Iceland.
Iceland are due to play their penultimate game in Denmark on Sunday.
England may have to play in Greece to avoid forfeiting their Nations League game with IcelandCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
But with Denmark having been taken off the UK’s “travel corridor” countries following the spread of Covid-19 to the nation’s mink population, it means Iceland’s players would have to quarantine for 14 days after entering this country.
That raises the prospect of Uefa granting Iceland a 3-0 win for England’s failure to fulfil the fixture.
The FA are engaged in emergency talks with the Government to see if dispensation can be made for Iceland in terms of bio-secure travel.
Forfeiting would end any chance Gareth Southgate’s men have of overhauling Denmark and Belgium to finish top of the group and make next year’s Finals.
England would still be a top seed for next month’s 2022 World Cup qualifying draw, as that will be based on Fifa world rankings, with the Three Lions certain to stay in Europe’s leading 10.
A number of club matches in the qualifying rounds of Uefa competitions were decided by walkovers after Covid outbreaks.
But European chiefs devised a way out of potential issues in August.
Uefa announced that four countries – Cyprus, Greece, Hungary and Poland – had been confirmed as official “neutral venues” for matches that could not be played as intended because of Covid restrictions.
Currently, however, only Greece is on the UK travel corridor list, making it the most likely venue if the game cannot be played at Wembley.
Another option, which has been suggested to Uefa, would be for Sunday’s game in Denmark to be switched to Greece, allowing Iceland to travel to London without any restrictions.
A decision is expected in the next 48 hours.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
