MINISTERS have grounded flights from Italy to STOP a Roman invasion for the Euros final.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has ordered airlines to cancel flights to stop thousands of ticketless Italians turning up at Wembley for the do or die clash.
He revealed canned direct flights to stop thousands of ticketless Romans breaking quarantine rules to descend on Wembley to support their side on Sunday.
But around 1,000 Italian fans WILL be allowed to skip isolation rules under an agreement with UEFA struck during the tournament,
Mr Shapps said: “We’ve still got a very strict border regime in place, including at the moment amber list countries, which includes Italy.
“If we detect people are coming in just for the football, they won’t be allowed in and in fact lots of charter flights and direct flights have been cancelled on that basis.”
He added: “I have to say every time we pointed out to a charter company that that looks like a flight that’s just bringing football fans in, they have cancelled it, so there have been no direct flights for that purpose.”
Italy’s semi-final clash with Spain was packed with Roman fans – but only those who live in the UK.
But under an exemption Italian fans based on the continent will be allowed over but only with an official UEFA ticket package.
They won’t have to isolate for ten days, but will have to stay in a designated hotel, and only be allowed out for the final.
They will still have to produce a negative pre-departure test and will be kept in tight bubble.
The Italian Football Federation will dish out the tickets costing £525 each to fans.
Another 2,500 Uefa VIPs and executives will also be able to skip quarantine for the final.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
