UEFA

UEFA and the Government remain ‘hopeful’ of a deal to ensure the closing stages of Euro 2020 remain at Wembley.Euro chiefs have warned they could move the semi-finals and final to Budapest unless they receive guarantees from Britain.
Boris Johnson is hopeful a deal can be struck to keep the Euro 2020 climax at WembleyCredit: Reuters
Uefa have threatened to move the semi-finals and final from London to BudapestCredit: Getty
Uefa pointed out that part of the agreement with the UK and FA over hosting was that there would be an agreement to allow up to 2,500 VIPs, sponsors and foreign media into the country for the games.
But current Covid rules would require all overseas visitors to observe strict 10-day hotel quarantines, making the idea of travel for the matches at short notice impossible.
Uefa is also seeking the green light from the UK authorities for fans of the competing teams to be allowed into the country to watch the matches, which will be played in front of a capped attendance of 40,000.
That requires a relaxation of UK border regulations, which is a significant stumbling block.
The sponsor, VIP and media demands scuppered plans to play last month’s Champions League Final between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley when it was moved from Istanbul, with the match eventually being played in Oporto. 
But with PM Boris Johnson also aware that failing to stage the games as scheduled could have a damaging impact on the effort to gain Uefa’s support for the planned British Isles 2030 World Cup bid, it is expected that a deal can be struck.
Johnson confirmed on Friday that he was ready to make ‘some sensible accommodations’ to meet Uefa’s expectations, rather than risk losing the matches.
But Uefa also recognises that it cannot be hardline in its demands.

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Talks have taken place over the past 48 hours and will continue into next week, with a final decision expected before Wednesday.
Now the mood at Uefa headquarters in Nyon is positive with a growing belief that a meeting of minds will be found.
That is likely to see a slight softening of Uefa’s demands, although Euro bosses are pushing strongly for 24-hour fan ‘bubbles’ – involving hotel and transportation – to ensure supporters can attend the game and return home immediately.
One insider said: “We are both confident we will get where we need to be on this.
“Nobody really wants to move the game to Hungary, although that is not off the table if we cannot find a suitable agreement.”
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SNIPERS were prepared to SHOOT the Greenpeace protester who parachuted onto the pitch before the Euro 2020 game between France and Germany.The police only decided against firing when they noticed the parachute had the environmental organisation’s logo on, according to a German minister.
Police were worried the protester who parachuted onto the pitch at Euro 2020 was a terroristCredit: EPA
Snipers were prepared to shoot the protester before noticing the Greenpeace logoCredit: EPA
Bavaria’s interior minister for the state Joachim Herrmann claims coppers in Munich were prepared to shoot the protester as they feared it was a terrorist attack.
The politician said: “Due to the Greenpeace banner the marksmen did not intervene.
“But if the police had come to a different conclusion that they might have been dealing with a terrorist attack, the aviator may well have paid with his life.”
Police in Munich have confirmed two men were injured by the pilot during his entrance into the stadium and were taken to hospital.
The protester lost control of his parachute, clashing with the spidercam and causing debris to fall onto the playing surface.
The police added: “There is no understanding whatsoever for such irresponsible actions in which a considerable risk to human life is accepted.”

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Uefa have also condemned Greenpeace’s actions, releasing a statement after the match.
It reads: “This inconsiderate act – which could have had very serious consequences for a huge number of people attending – caused injuries to several people attending the game who are now in hospital and law authorities will take the necessary action.
“Uefa and its partners are fully committed to a sustainable Euro 2020 tournament and many initiatives have been implemented to offset carbon emissions.
“The staging of the match was fortunately not impacted by such a reckless and dangerous action, but several people were injured nonetheless.”

Greenpeace have apologised for the failed stunt, tweeting: “This protest was never meant to interrupt the game or injure people.
“We hope that everyone is OK and that nobody has been seriously injured.
“Greenpeace actions are always peaceful and non-violent. Unfortunately, with this stunt everything did not go to plan.”
The organisation later tried to explain their plan in a second Twitter post, writing: “The pilot had wanted to let a balloon hover in the stadium, but had to then do an emergency landing, due to the fact that the hand gas control of the parachute failed.”
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FUMING Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand raged that Uefa rules allow a postponement for coronavirus but not following a cardiac arrest.Christian Eriksen collapsed just before half-time, requiring CPR and a defibrillator shock to resuscitate him on the pitch in Copenhagen.
Kasper Hjulmand slammed Uefa for allowing postponements for coronavirus but not Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrestCredit: AP
The Danish head coach was managing on the pitch just 90 minutes after Eriksen was taken awayCredit: Getty
But Hjulmand’s side were forced to play the remaining 50 minutes of Saturday’s Euro 2020 clash against Finland, taking to the field around 90 minutes after seeing their team-mate rushed to hospital.
And he hit out at Uefa once again for their handling of the situation.
Speaking to the press today ahead of Thursday’s game with Belgium, Hjulmand said: “Coronavirus allows you to postpone a match for 48 hours.
“A cardiac arrest obviously does not. That, I think, is wrong. 
“There is learning here. It was not the right decision to continue playing. 
“The boys showed so much strength by going out and playing on. 
“But I do not think it was the right thing to give us and the players the choice to go out and finish play on Saturday or Sunday.”
Uefa gave Denmark the choice to either conclude the Finland clash on Saturday night or come back on Sunday lunchtime.
The world held its breath after Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch

Peter Schmeichel, former Danish goalkeeper and father of Kasper who was in goal on Saturday, revealed Uefa threatened his country with a 3-0 forfeit if they did not take one of those options.
Uefa categorically deny the claim but Schmeichel said: “They said the players insisted on playing. I know that not to be the truth. Or that’s how you see the truth.
“They were left with three options. One was to play immediately and get the last 50 minutes played.
“The next one was to come in yesterday at 12 noon and finish the 50 minutes.
“And the third option was to forfeit the game and lose 3-0.
“So, you know, work it out for yourself. Is it the players’ wish to play? Did they have any choice really? I don’t think they had.
Christian Eriksen’s life was saved by the fast reactions of team-mates and medics
“And as you can hear from yesterday’s press conference, the coach seriously regrets putting the players back on the pitch.”
Eriksen is stable and recovering in hospital following the shocking weekend events.
He gave a thumbs up from his bed on Tuesday morning and shared a message on his Instagram.
The Inter Milan star wrote: “Hello everyone. Big thanks for your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all around the world. It means a lot to me and my family.
“I’m fine – under the circumstances. I still have to go through some examinations at the hospital, but I feel okay.
“Now, I will cheer on the boys on the Denmark team in the next matches. Play for all of Denmark. Best, Christian.”
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ENGLAND can win a maximum £24.29m in prize money at Euro 2020 – after Uefa and national associations agreed a cash cut.The initial prize money budget for the tournament planned a total pot of £319m.
England will be playing for a reduced prize pot share of £24m at Euro 2020Credit: EPAEURO 2020 PRIZE MONEY: Full breakdown

GROUP STAGE
Planned – £8m
Actual – £8m
MATCH BONUS
Planned – £1.29m for win, £645k for draw
Actual – £860k for win, £430k draw
LAST-16
Planned – £1.72m
Actual – £1.29m
QUARTER-FINALS
Planned – £2.8m
Actual – £2.15m
SEMI-FINALS
Planned – £4.3m
Actual – £3.44m
RUNNER-UP
Planned – £6.02m
Actual – £4.3m
WINNER
Planned – £8.61m
Actual – £6.88m

But with the Covid crisis causing a delay and crowds limited as a result of the pandemic, Uefa has now slashed the prize pool to £284.55m.
England, like the other 23 qualified nations, will get a minimum payment of £8m.
But the group stage prize money has been reduced from £1.29m per win (half that for a draw), to £860,000 for each victory and half for a draw.
Qualifying for the last-16 is now worth £1.29m, down from the original £1.72m.
Quarter-finalists will now receive an additional £2.15m, compared to the planned £2.8m.
Reaching the semis will net the FA an extra £3.44m, 25 per cent less than the initial figure of £4.3m.
And the winners and runners up will now receive £6.88m and £4.3m respectively.
Those figures are way down on the original prizes of £8.61m and £6.02m.
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Roy Keane reckons England have a shot of Euro 2020 glory, with Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling looking to ‘explode’ and prove their doubters wrong.
Keane said: “Sometimes you look at players who have had a quiet spell – quiet because they’ve set such high standards.
“Rashford and Sterling, for example.
“But I think that is a good thing. You’re going into the tournament going ‘these lads are ready to explode’.
“Gareth [Southgate] definitely likes Rashford and Sterling.”
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