Wembley is set to play host to 65,000 people for the final three games of the Euros next month, with the semi finals and final to get a boost in numbers.
The Euros have definitely been improved by the reintroduction of fans to stadiums, after over a year without them due to Covid 19, though only matches in Hungary’s Ferenc Puskas Stadium have been full.
Wembley has played host to 22,500 fans for England’s opening two fixtures to date, and will do so against Czech Republic on Tuesday night.
England’s national stadium will also play host to a last 16 game, which could be the Three Lions’ match should they top group D, and that will also see the seats half filled.
According to the Times, that is due to change for both semi finals, and the final on July 11th, when Wembley will nearly two thirds full, with 65,000 fans let in.
As with the previous games fans will have to be double vaccinated or show proof of a negative Covid test 48 hours ahead of kick off.
The report says the new figure comes as part of an agreement between the government and UEFA, which had to come in the wake of England’s ‘Freedom Day’ being moved.
Initially Covid restrictions in the country were supposed to be lifted on June 21st but last week they had to be extended to July 19th.
That put the hosting of the tournament’s final three games on English soil under threat with 2,500 VIPs set to be forced into 10 day self isolation on arrival into the country from ‘amber alert’ countries.
A number of UEFA sponsors, officials and broadcasters are set to be given an exemption but will have to remain in bubbles and will still require negative tests to get into games.
As well as number of fans and officials allowed in the stadium, Wembley was under some threat of losing the games next month because of rising Covid numbers.
Speaking in Berlin, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said he favoured the games taking place in Rome instead, saying, “Yes . . . I will try to stop the final being held in a country where infections are rising quickly,” definitely no ulterior motive there…
Euro 2020 had already been given exemption to allow more fans from the government, with other sports events also given similar treatment.
The Wimbledon men’s and women’s singles finals will both have full capacity at SW19, with the men’s final on the same day as the Euros completion.
The Open at Royal St George and British Grand Prix at Silverstone next month will also see full crowds, although they are outdoors and fans are usually spread out over larger areas.
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