THE GOVERNMENT admit they cannot guarantee the Euros will go ahead in England next summer.
Secretary of State for Sport Oliver Dowden confessed the coronavirus pandemic could prevent Wembley staging its seven planned matches.
Secretary of State for Sport Oliver Dowden has worries over the Euros taking place in EnglandCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Asked yesterday whether it was realistic the Euros will be staged next June, Dowden told SunSport: “I very much hope so.
“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.
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“But if it is safe to do so, then, of course, we will work to achieve that.
“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.”
The Euros were to begin on June 12 this year — taking place in 12 cities across 12 Uefa countries.
They were postponed until June 12 next year as a result of the global Covid-19 crisis.
Fans aren’t even allowed in stadiums in England – the Euros seem like a distant dreamCredit: Getty – Contributor
But the recent spike in positive cases, forcing major European nations back into local lockdowns, has raised fears that the tournament may be thrown into turmoil.
The UK’s spike also forced the Government to extend its ban on fans inside stadiums, with Premier League bosses fearing that will remain in place ALL season.
Dowden’s comments come just 24 hours after Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp raised serious Covid concerns over players jetting across the globe to play for their countries during the upcoming international break.
UEFA’S 30% CAPACITY TRIAL
Wembley is scheduled to stage England’s three group games, plus a last 16 clash, both semis and the final.
Uefa last week announced supporters will be allowed into stadiums for its tournaments with a 30 per cent stadium capacity limit.
But Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: “While we all face a common enemy in Covid, different countries have different challenges.
“We will allow for a coherent approach on a country-by-country basis — not on a competition-by-competition basis.”
When prompted if the Government will have a cut-off point on making a decision, Dowden added: “Yes, there will be one, but we have got time and we’ll be doing this with a view to making the Euros happen.
“I really don’t want to delay them again. If you do then you start to get a tremendous backlog of sports, they start to run into one another.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
