Merkel also takes a stand together with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who already yesterday had declared doubts about the European final underway in a country, like England, where infections are on the rise and the Delta variant is scary. “Great Britain is a variant risk area of the virus – said Angela Merkel, answering a question at a press conference in Berlin about whether she believes it responsible that Uefa allows the semifinal and final of the European Championships in Great Britain – All those who arrive from there they have to stay 14 days in quarantine and the exceptions are very few. I believe, indeed I don’t believe, I hope UEFA will act responsibly. I would not find it positive that there were full stadiums there ».
The Johnson government’s response
At least 60 thousand spectators will be admitted to Wembley on the occasion of the two semi-finals and the final of Euro 2020, scheduled for 11 July. It was the British government itself that announced today that the capacity of the London stadium, for the last three games of the European Championship, will be expanded to 75% of its maximum. For the three games played in the group stage, the capacity at Wembley had been limited to 25%.
“We are thrilled to announce – tweeted Oliver Dowden, Minister of Culture and Sports of the government of Boris Johnson – that more fans will be able to pass through the Wembley turnstiles to enjoy the finals of Euro2020″. “As the United Kingdom continue on our roadmap towards exiting the lockdown, we intend to ensure that public safety remains our top priority,” said Dowden, claiming to the British government that he “worked very closely with UEFA and the FA to ensure rigorous and stringent measures to allow more supporters to witness the show live. The finals – concluded the minister – are announced as an unforgettable moment on the road to our national recovery from the pandemic ».
Draghi’s words against the final in London
Mario Draghi’s first visit to Germany as President of the Council of Ministers opened yesterday with a jab against England: “I am committed to taking the European final away from the peak of infections”. A clear reference to the United Kingdom where in the last week the Delta variant blew up infections and hospitalizations. When asked if the final match of the competition can be played in Rome, the premier limited himself to replying: “It certainly shouldn’t be played in a country where infections are high”. And the 10 thousand newly infected in England worry Europe a lot.
The response of theUefa, in a note, however, does not open to alternative hypotheses: “Uefa, the English federation and the English authorities are successfully working closely together to organize the semi-finals and the final of the Euro at Wembley and there are no plans to change the venue of those matches ».