THE Euro final is almost certain to stay at Wembley after a stoppage-time deal between ministers and Uefa.
Boris Johnson’s team were last night scrambling to stop the last three games of the tournament being switched to Hungary amid a major travel row.
The Sun can reveal Downing Street is on the cusp of an agreement with organisers to allow quarantine-free travel for VIPs.
It could see up to 75,000 fans allowed in to watch the final at the stadium. However last night the Italians threw a spanner in the works by saying it should be stripped from Wembley because of Covid rates.
PM Mario Draghi said he wanted it played “away from a peak of infections” and hinted the showpiece event should be staged in Rome.
The Three Lions line up against the Czech Republic tonight, with a win guaranteeing another game at Wembley, against one of France, Germany or Portugal.
If they come second with a draw, they will have to go to Copenhagen for an awkward clash against Spain, Slovakia, Sweden or Poland.
A defeat leaves their fate in the lap of the gods.
Harry Kane will again lead out the side after their drab 0-0 draw with Scotland last week.
Cheering them on will be NHS heroes from North Middlesex Hospital – just 12 miles from Wembley.
They treated thousands of Covid patients in the pandemic – and believe bringing the Euro trophy home can be the ultimate reward.
Matron Laurence Dookie said: “After an incredibly busy and challenging year, the Euros has been something to look forward to and it’s been great to let off a bit of steam.”
Uefa has demanded 2,500 quarantine-free VIP tickets for the final but Whitehall mandarins are trying to push that down.
Officials say they will be kept separate from UK-based fans, must sign up to a code of conduct and isolate while away from the ground.
Talks are also ongoing over increasing the final’s capacity to between 60,000 and 75,000.
Insiders are confident they will strike a deal within the next 24 hours – staving off any threat of the final being moved to Hungary.
In Budapest, 61,000-capacity crowds are packing in to the Puskás Aréna with no international quarantine measures.
Culture minister Baroness Barran said yesterday: “We are not exempting any VIPs or accredited guests from our restrictions. If it’s agreed they should enter the UK, they would only be able to leave isolation for official events and be subject to a very strict code of conduct.”
However the PM’s sister, journalist Rachel Johnson, said the proposals could be “the final nail in the coffin of the Covid restrictions”.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
