Rome, 21 June 2021 – There is not alone Draghi, to be opposed to the final of the Europeans takes place in London. Even the well-known virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco intervenes to explain that “definitely not a great idea” to play such an important game in a country, Great Britain, where they register over 10 thousand cases of Covid a day and where the fearsome continues to rage Delta variant. In short, it is better to play in Italy
For now the semifinals and the final of Europeans are scheduled a Wembley on 6, 7 and 11 July. According to rumors, UEFA could ask for a move to a safer city and there has been talk of Budapest, though Roma it could be an alternative. But in the meantime London goes straight and even deals with Uefa to increase Wembley’s ability in view of the semifinals and the final. In a note, Uefa explains: “Uefa, the FA, the English football federation and the English authorities are working closely together successfully to organize the semi-finals and the final of the Euro at Wembley and there are no plans to change the venue for those games“.
The words of the premier
In the bilateral in Berlin with Angela Merke, Draghi said clearly: “I intend to do my best so that the final does not take place in a country where infections are growing rapidly”. The question assumed to move the event to Rome, but obviously the premier was not out of balance on this.
No comment da Johnson
Downing Street does not comment on the words of the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, on the opportunity to move the European football final from London due to the rebound of Covid infections fueled in the United Kingdom by the Delta variant. According to what Ansa learns from well-informed sources, however, the British government intends to make it known that it is “fully committed”, in close contact with UEFA, to ensuring that the semifinals and the final can be perform at Wembley as planned “in safe” health for everyone.
The quarantine problem
The main problem is the 10-day quarantine that the British government currently imposes on those arriving from other countries and which would jeopardize the presence of 2,500 VIP guests (including the precious sponsors) to the final. Boris Johnson’s government would have to grant an exemption, but this would obviously spark controversy.
More generally, there is the problem of security for thousands of foreign fans who would leave for London to attend the final.
Pregliasco: better in Italy
The virologist from the University of Milan explained that playing the final matches of the Europeans in Great Britain “is definitely not a great idea”. “The delta variant has increased the cases, the circulation is viral, it is higher, in short, it is a risk“he noted.
In his opinion “perhaps it would even be the case with advise fans against going to England following the matches, especially since at the stadium, it goes without saying, the risks grow with thousands of people crowded. It was a mistake, it should have been review the calendar: on the other hand they are the first itinerant Europeans, it would not have been a dramatic choice like postponing or moving the entire event. In Italy there are ten times fewer cases a day, perhaps some other matches could have been set up here, or in other low-traffic countries “.
But London goes straight
Meanwhile, London goes straight: according to various British media, negotiations are underway between the London government and Uefa for increase the capacity of Wembley for the semifinals and the final of Euro 2020. They also filter indications on the fact that the maximum body of European football has no intention of changing headquarters for the final acts of the event despite the increase in Covid cases in the country.
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